The Atlanta Hawks are going into the season with high hopes for their roster. If things get off to a rocky start, however, would they consider a blockbuster trade and move on from Trae Young? An obvious trade partner may have just emerged in the Houston Rockets.
Trae Young and the Hawks have been together for all seven seasons of Young's career, and in that time he has been to four All-Star games, elevating himself up the ladder of greatest Hawks in franchise history. Yet at the same time, his limitations on defense and as an off-ball player have prevented Atlanta from building elite playoff rosters, and the Hawks have been to the playoffs just three times in his career.
Young is eligible for a mammoth contract extension this year, but thus far things have been quiet on whether the Hawks will offer such a deal or what range such an offer would be in. If the team was ready to hand Young a max extension it would have already happened; if Young was ready to accept whatever number the Hawks have in mind, his agent would have communicated it and a deal would likewise be in the books.
That has not happened, and the franchise still has its options open. They could agree to an extension at any point this season; they could delay and force Young to find a deal on the open market next summer. They also could look to trade Young for a big return, if such a deal could be found.
Could the Hawks trade Trae Young?
There are two barriers to such a trade: one internal, one external. If the Hawks get off to a rip-roaring start, it's unlikely the franchise will want to move on from Young. Additionally, they would need to be offered a significant haul; moving off of a franchise player is a difficult move to make. Other NBA teams have to be ready to look past Young's weaknesses.
One barrier may be removed or at least reduced, as the Houston Rockets suddenly have a massive need at point guard. Fred VanVleet tore his ACL and is most likely out for the season. For a team with designs on contending and the ultimate win-now player in Kevin Durant, it may be time to push in the chips and take a swing at a top-tier replacement.
The Rockets have the defensive infrastructure to survive a minus defender, and a defensive-minded head coach in Ime Udoka to get the best out of Young. If he truly wants to compete for a championship, he may buy in and be able to show off his strengths while having his weaknesses protected. Being surrounded by Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant and Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. is the ideal defensive ecosystem.
What about the internal barrier? If the Hawks get off to a rough start, suddenly the team may be more open to a change. They have a young core they have cultivated between Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccherie Risacher; if they can build out adding more pieces to that group that fit their timeline, they can build a long-term contending group.
The Rockets cannot make a substantive trade until later in the season, so the Hawks have time to evaluate their own group. If Houston comes calling with a strong offer, perhaps with names like Reed Sheppard or Eason involved alongside picks and VanVleet's contract, the Hawks have to consider it.
Moving on from a franchise player is a difficult move. This is a Hawks team that hopes to make noise in the playoffs this year. If things fall short, however, then Trae Young may have a landing spot -- and Atlanta may have a path to changing their fortunes.