The Atlanta Hawks have a significant decision to make on Trae Young this offseason, and the individual who will be tied to it has not yet been named. While The Stein Line’s Marc Stein previously insisted trade chatter around Young was minimal, the insider offered new insight.
Amid Stein’s report, “multiple representatives from rival teams” contacted him to “check in and question” his read on the situation.
There was even a suggestion for the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic to gauge interest.
“One trusted talent evaluator went so far as to pinpoint two teams he suggests would be wise to test Atlanta’s resolve once it does hire a new president of basketball operations, asserting that Orlando and Houston would both benefit strongly from Young’s offensive gifts while also possessing ample defensive-minded personnel to insulate Young at the other end,” Stein wrote on May 11.
“Although such thoughts qualify as just one exec's landscape projections … they struck us as interesting to consider.”
While both teams may benefit, one can certainly benefit the Hawks more than the other in a potential deal for Young, which to this point had not been among the top talking points about Atlanta’s offseason because of the front office decision.
Hawks should target Rockets as trade partner if Trae Young is available
If – and that cannot be stressed enough – the Hawks do decide to trade Young, moving him to Houston makes the most sense for the organization and the player.
That would keep him out of the Eastern Conference, reducing his opportunities to exact revenge – and he almost certainly would take it personally, given his commitment to the team, and keep him out of their way in the postseason, assuming they maintain that as a goal.
Moreover, the Rockets have the kind of two-way prospects the Hawks would be wise to target.
They have a strong start with 2024 Most Improved player Dyson Daniels, a restricted free agent this offseason, and promising young forwards Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher.
How and where Young fits into the Hawks’ future was bound to be a driving storyline of the offseason. It was more surprising to hear that the talk was quiet, especially given the uncertainty with the roster and front office uncertainty.
The Hawks have financial flexibility.
An extension for Young would alter that outlook, though. There is also the question of how much more patience Young has for being an also-ran in the East.