On a recent list concocted by ESPN’s insiders, Trae Young received a vote as one of the stars most likely to request a trade next. Of the 25 votes that were cast, Young only got one, but the fact remains: He was on the list. Young has been a Hawk for his entire career, yet Atlanta has only made it to the Conference Finals once during his tenure.
However, the Hawks are in a better place than ever. The Eastern Conference is wide open next season, and Atlanta just made some big-swing moves this summer. They brought in Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, opening the door for another title push.
That said, nothing is impossible.
Would Trae Young actually request a trade?
It’s possible that, at some point down the line, Young eventually asks out of Atlanta. If they fail to win at the highest level, he could get sick of losing, much like any star in the NBA. But at this point in time, it feels a bit silly to place Young on this list.
Last year or even the year before, Young could have been a top candidate. There were even rumblings that the San Antonio Spurs wanted to trade for him and pair him with Victor Wembanyama.
The Hawks have been fumbling around the middle of the East for the last three seasons. At any point during that time, Young could have been a prime candidate to be the next star to ask for a trade.
But right now, the Hawks may have the most hope since the season following their Conference Finals run in 2021. They were projected to keep blossoming that year, and now, they have a real shot to make some noise in the East.
Porzingis and Alexander-Walker are perfect pieces next to Young, as they add to the Hawks’ ever-improving defensive infrastructure. Plus, their shooting and scoring abilities add another dimension to the team’s offense.
On top of that, the Hawks have seemingly finally found the best possible backcourt mate for Young in Dyson Daniels. Last year, he won the Most Improved Player award and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
Add in Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Zaccharie Risacher, and the Hawks have carefully concocted an ideal lineup around Young, giving him the best chance to win since the 2021 season.
For the past few years, Young may have been a candidate to request a trade, but this isn’t the time to put him on a list like this.