The Atlanta Hawks want to contend for a championship. It is why they changed their front office, hired Quinn Snyder, traded John Collins, and tried to acquire Pascal Siakam. The Hawks have two All-Stars and were in the conference finals in 2021. They know they can win, but it may take more roster tweaks.
Atlanta would have no shortage of suitors if they put Trae Young on the block. The two-time All-Star is one of the best offensive point guards in the league. His elite scoring and playmaking are impactful, but there are defensive questions. Can Atlanta win with him?
Ice Trae has been in the rumors, and his name popped up again when he was mentioned as a Lakers target (subscription required). Do the Hawks decide to make sweeping changes before February?
Will the Atlanta Hawks trade Trae Young before the deadline?
Atlanta is not trading Young before the start of the regular season unless something unexpected happens. He is locked up until 2026 and is only 25 years old. The best is still yet to come from the two-time All-Star, and the Hawks have no reason to sell low.
If Atlanta struggles out of the gate, things could change quickly. Dejounte Murray just signed an extension and is capable of being the team’s lead ball-handler and playmaker. The Hawks could look to move on from Young and build the team around Murray.
The LA Clippers need a point guard and are eager to add a star. Could they acquire Trae Young? The Clippers are never shy, but light on assets. What type of package could LA offer?
Laying out what the Atlanta Hawks could get from Clippers for Trae Young
The Clippers still owe two first-round picks and one swap to the Thunder from the Paul George trade. They have dealt multiple second-round selections too, so they are left with two firsts, two first-round swaps, and four second-rounders available to trade. It leaves them limited when trying to acquire a star, but LA will be aggressive in making offers.
FanSided laid out four trades to get Trae Young off the Hawks, and this was the package they had the Clippers giving up for Hawks star.
LA would have to jump at this trade. They have a massive hole at point guard and could fill it with an All-Star. Russell Westbrook played well after joining the team in February and will be back. He is best suited as the sixth man, and the Clippers could add an offensive engine to create open looks for whoever is on the floor.
They give up two first-round picks and expiring contracts to get an All-Star. Sign the Clippers up. Even better, if it is a young player as LA has just two players under 30 in their current nightly rotation.
The Clips would be onboard, but should the Atlanta Hawks accept this package for Trae Young?
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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