Grade the trade: Hawks deal Trae Young to Clippers in shocking proposal

Would the Atlanta Hawks trade Trae Young for this package?

Young’s value is difficult to peg. The 25-year-old is a transformative offensive talent, but his defense creates plenty of questions. The 6’1 guard struggles to guard at the point of attack but does not have the size to defend up positions. The Hawks have to hide him, but can they win a championship with Young as their point guard?

If Atlanta loses faith that they can, it is time to trade Ice Trae, but there is no reason to sell low. The Hawks need enough to get another star and stay in contention. They should be searching for multiple draft picks and desirable contracts to flip for another premium talent.

Grade: D

This feels like an extremely light return for Trae Young. He was just third-team All-NBA and an All-Star in 2022. That makes him roughly one of the 15 best players in the league. The Hawks should be able to fetch more than two first-round picks and three expiring contracts. Heck, the Clippers could offer more. Getting two first-round pick swaps would be a boost to this deal.

The Atlanta Hawks are coming to a crossroads. Can Trae Young make them an annual contender, or is it time to move on? Stay tuned to find out.

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