The Atlanta Hawks have not shown many, if any, signs of desire to trade Trae Young, at least not since last offseason. However, if that latter sentiment returns – and there are early signs that it could – the Hawks could have an ideal trade partner just waiting for a phone call.
That team is the Sacramento Kings, whom NBA insider Zach Lowe and former Memphis Grizzlies executive John Hollinger pegged as a potential landing spot for Young.
Lowe framed the discussion around the Hawks’ “dilemma” on “The Zach Lowe Show.”
The guard will be extension-eligible this offseason, and he can opt out of his current five-year, $215.1 million deal in 2026. That could foster an environment where the Hawks trade Young to the Kings, whom the two analysts believe are one of the few landing spots that make sense.
Lowe floated the idea of Kings’ guard Malik Monk and forward DeMar DeRozan, a deal that would leave the Hawks tied to both players longer than they are to Young.
Both are also older than Young.
Monk, who Lowe included because the Hawks would need to replace Young with someone capable of handling the ball, is starting a four-year, $77.9 million contract and has a player option for the final year in 2027-28.
DeRozan turns 36 in August and is heading into Year 2 of a $73.9 million deal with no outs for either side.
Lowe also floated the idea of the Hawks adding Kings’ big man Domantas Sabonis.
However, such a move could create a logjam in the Hawks’ frontcourt. More importantly, creating a suitable or enticing package for the Kings for Sabonis without including Onyeka Okongwu.
Notably, the Kings and Hawks have done business recently, with Atlanta sending Kevin Huerter to Sacramento in 2022. That deal yielded the No. 13 overall pick this year.
Both organizations have changed front offices since then, though.
Former GM expects Hawks to try extending Trae Young
Hollinger and Lowe considered other teams, including the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, and the latter noted whispers about the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz.
However, Hollinger speculated that the Hawks will at least attempt to extend Young.
Hollinger believes the “real question” is whether or not the Hawks can re-sign Young for less than the maximum he can get. That number is $229 million, a significant discount from what Young would have been eligible for had he earned an All-NBA Team slot.
Even with that, there is no guarantee that the Hawks want to extend Young, which Lowe believes would be telling.
“If you don’t get the extension done, it’s not a great sign for the relationship between player and team. This is a franchise player, this is a guy you traded Luka [Doncic] for, this is a guy who led you to the Conference Finals,” Lowe said on the May 22 edition of the show. “He’s beloved in Atlanta. Everyone does the Ice Trae shiver thing. If you don’t get that done, that at least sort of changes the dynamic with Trae Young and the Hawks.”
Hollinger agreed, saying, “Everyone’s looking at their watch then.”