Rich Paul, Jalen Johnson’s agent, identified the key problem the Atlanta Hawks face with Trae Young: he is one of the most talented players in the league, but their overreliance on him must end.
Young had the ultimate green light when he entered the league. The Hawks traded the 17-year-old reigning EuroLeague MVP, Luka Doncic, to draft Young because they saw his potential as a fusion of Steph Curry and James Harden. He never reached the MVP ceiling Atlanta dreamed of, but this time was still valuable. He logged critical reps that led him to become the offensive engine he is today.
But after eight years as the King of the Atlanta Hawks, it’s time for Young to fall back into a smaller role.
The Hawks offense flows better without a true star
Paul pointed to the changing dynamic of the NBA’s great teams over the past decade as to why the Hawks should change their playstyle. The last two teams to win a championship, the Celtics and Thunder, both had a top-five player in the league, yet featured an egalitarian offense that fed everyone.
The Hawks would benefit from the same dynamic, but how do you fit Young into a smaller role?
The answer is two-fold. First, Young has to trust his teammates to create a successful offense. While he might not have trusted the team before his absence due to injury, his tone during this season suggests that seeing the team without him has built confidence in his supporting cast.
After establishing trust, Young must buy into playing off the ball.
And there is reason to believe he would embrace this as well. Young was more active off the ball in his brief start to this season, with my favorite moment coming in an early post up from Young that created space for a series of quick passes into an open shot.
Rich Paul is correct in diagnosing the Hawks’ problem, but his statement is overshadowed by the fact that he is Jalen Johnson’s agent. Comments like this leave a sour taste when you remember that he has a financial stake in Johnson’s career, particularly after Paul already pitched the idea of Johnson being traded to Milwaukee.
There is probably nothing substantial behind either the Milwaukee comment or this comment, but Paul’s increased presence behind the microphone will likely lead to more subtle suggestions that would help Johnson’s chances at another massive payday.