The Atlanta Hawks fought back but fell short against the Indiana Pacers, dropping their eighth straight game ahead of the trade deadline.
Trae Young exploded for 34 points, adding 17 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. But it was not enough to overcome the Hawks’ 12 turnovers (5 by Young) or their finishing minus-8 on the boards.
Afterward, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam offered some noteworthy words of comfort for Young.
“I know how you feel, but just keep going,” Siakam told Young after getting the three-time All-Star’s attention postgame.
In a bit of irony, the Hawks’ last victory was against the reigning champion Boston Celtics. But it came on January 18. The nadir came in back-to-back losses to the Toronto Raptors who have 15 wins on the season.
There is even more irony in Siakam being the one to deliver the remarks.
The Hawks were the prime rumored suitor for Siakam last season before the Raptors traded him to the Pacers ahead of the 2024 deadline.
They even reportedly made an offer of De’Andre Hunter and AJ Griffin. Among the many storylines that emerged during that saga were concerns that Siakam would re-sign with a team that traded for him.
He inked a $189.5 million contract to return to the Pacers last offseason.
Were the concerns overblown because of the potential destination? Much of that chatter dissipated soon after he landed in Indy.
More importantly, the Hawks cannot let Siakam’s situation play out with Young. The Raptors won a championship in 2019. But stagnation in the years that have followed have led to a gutting of that roster over the past few seasons.
The Hawks peaked with Young in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
Time ticking for Trae Young, Hawks
Since then, they have been in the Play-In Tournament every year and failed to make the postseason entirely last season.
Young has only espoused his desire to remain in Atlanta and win. The Hawks cannot let those two things be in conflict with one another as they have been since that ECF run. Young’s contract situation only exacerbates the situation.
He is in Year 3 of a five-year, $215.1 million contract.
Young will be extension-eligible after this season. More importantly, though, he has a player option for the final year of the deal, potentially making next year his last in Atlanta.
The Hawks could find it more difficult than expected to replace the ceiling that he unlocks if they try. The deadline may not be the time to keep an eye on Young’s name in trade rumors. But they could certainly pick back up this offseason.
Young and the Hawks conclude their current road trip against the Detroit Pistons on February 3.