Hawks' next step is painfully obvious after Trae Young injury

Hawks fans held their breath in the first quarter of Wednesday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets, as Trae Young went down with an apparent knee injury. After Friday morning's MRI, Young was revealed to have suffered a right MCL sprain.

This comes as a faint sigh of relief, as many expected the injury to be much more serious. Instead of a potential season-ending injury, Young will be re-evaluated in four weeks, with a likely return coming around then.

The Hawks were already in the midst of a rough beginning to the season. They entered Wednesday's game with a 1-3 record, a disappointing start after an entire offseason of national hype. It was always going to be a troubling first few weeks, as the new lineup needed to build on-court chemistry.

With their floor general now sidelined for an extended period, they will not get the chance to, at least not during the first month of the season. While most fans would want the Hawks to go out and trade for a player of Young's caliber, the more realistic option would be enough to keep the team afloat while their star sits.

It would not be the most exciting move in the world. Wright is obviously not in the same world as Young as a scorer or playmaker, but he would be just enough to keep this roster competitive. When Young returns, Wright could remain on the roster as a veteran presence and emergency backup.

He has been in between roles for several seasons now. Since he left Atlanta in the summer of 2022, he has been on four teams without locking down a consistent spot in a lineup. This is not a direct fault of his, as the roster construction of his previous teams has not allowed him to shine as a player.

A reunion with Delon Wright makes all the sense in the world.

In his lone season with the Atlanta Hawks, Wright averaged 4.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 45.4% from the floor and 37.9% from deep. He ironically developed into quite the backcourt mate for Trae Young.

If Atlanta were to bring him back to the squad, he would not see minutes alongside Young, at least not until he comes back from injury. He would likely share a similar role to what Keaton Wallace has right now. He would not start, but would give some low-end rotation minutes depending on the matchup.

The loss of Young for at least a month hurts. There is no doubt about it. Atlanta's offense will take a hit, but it's up to the defensive standouts to keep these upcoming games competitive in his absence. If they choose to explore their options in the free agent market, Wright could be a smart add to improve the team on both ends of the floor.