NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Wednesday morning that while the Atlanta Hawks have had discussions with the Wizards about a Trae Young trade, the team wants to see if any other trade suitors emerge (subscription required) leading up to the Feb. 5 deadline.
On Tuesday, Mike Scotto of HoopsHype wrote that the Timberwolves, Bucks, and Clippers have monitored Young's situation. Monitoring doesn't mean that those teams are ready to jump into a trade.
Fischer said that outside of Washington, it's "difficult to pinpoint" active suitors for the 27-year-old guard. He noted the complications of a Young trade for the Bucks and Timberwolves, as both teams would have to give up key players to match his salary. The insider added that the guard's camp views Minnesota and Brooklyn as "two attractive potential destinations," but neither team is interested.
There is no rush for Atlanta to trade Young, with the deadline still 29 days away. Unless another team emerges, though, he could be on his way to the Wizards. That return wouldn't be what the Hawks want, especially if Washington demands draft capital, but that's what it might come down to.
Hawks waiting to see if other teams emerge as suitors for Trae Young
Young's future is the NBA's primary focus, at least right now, before the deadline. Where he'll end up is the most popular topic of conversation, that is, if he's traded, as there is always the chance that Atlanta will hold onto him, although that would put him in a position to pick up his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season. The Hawks don't want that.
The Wizards, meanwhile, have the cap space to absorb his salary, even if he opts in next season. Fischer even mentioned that he could see Washington "proposing" an extension to Young's camp if a trade does happen, one that has "more manageable annual average value." It would allow him to be the star of the show in D.C. and increase his trade value.
It doesn't matter if he's willing to play with the Wizards or not, and given that Fischer pinpointed the Timberwolves and the Nets as the two teams he would prefer to go to, you can assume Young might not be that thrilled about landing in Washington. Unfortunately, the reality is that between the CBA and the lack of a market for point guards, the nation's capital might be his next stop.
There will continue to be a flood of reports and speculation about Young's future. Will one of those reports be about a new team emerging as a suitor? Let's wait and see.