The Hawks still have not extended Trae Young for some reason, which leaves open the possibility that the team may move on from him if an extension cannot be reached. The Houston Rockets were previously theorized as the most realistic landing spot for Young after their starting point guard, Fred VanVleet, fell to a season-ending ACL injury in training camp. The Rockets have an intriguing collection of draft picks and young assets they could liquidate for Young.
The problem with this trade is that, barring the exceedingly unlikely scenario in which Amen Thompson is traded, the Hawks would be punting on the next few years. The Rockets have no way to trade back someone of Young’s caliber while remaining competitive.
A trade to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball, however, as Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report suggested, could allow Atlanta to move from Young while receiving a player capable of stepping into Young’s role. Ball is 24 years old, three years younger than Young and one year older than Jalen Johnson. Ball’s career trajectory matches Johnson’s more closely, and he is also a ball-dominant point guard capable of piloting Atlanta’s top-heavy offense.
Young is seeking a 4-year, $229 million extension, with an average annual value (AAV) of $57.25 million. Ball, on the other hand, is in the second year of a 5-year, $204 million contract, with an AAV of just $41 million. This is less than Young’s 5-year, $215 million rookie extension (AAV: $43 million) that could expire this offseason.
Why this could make sense for Atlanta and Charlotte
As their salaries would indicate, Young is the more complete player at this stage in their respective careers. That being said, Ball arguably makes more sense in Atlanta than Young due to his age and potential fit next with the roster.
Ball thrives in transition, and the pairing of him and Johnson could be the backbone of a truly dangerous duo. Both guards have struggled with their scoring efficiency, but perhaps Ball could thrive in a smaller role alongside Johnson. Critically, Ball is also a generational passing talent who could replicate Young’s playmaking impact. While he isn’t the offensive engine Young is, he would be more than capable of quarterbacking the offense, particularly if Johnson receives a more prominent role simultaneously.
For the trade to happen, the Hawks will likely have to add a sweetener. Young is the better player, but Ball is on the more valuable contract (assuming Charlotte extends him for the max, which would be an under-the-table stipulation behind the trade). Atlanta has a few New Orleans picks to send, though both assets may be too valuable to include in a trade that returns equal talent.
Of course, this trade idea is as unlikely as any other hypothetical Trae Young trade. If Onsi Saleh cannot work out an extension with the Atlanta star, however, his first call when exploring trade options should be to Charlotte.