Grade the trade: 2 proposed offseason deals to break up the Hawks star backcourt

Swartz also tackled the idea that the Hawks could look to move on from the three-time All-Star, Young, rather than Murray. The Hawks are rumored to have held talks about a potential trade with the San Antonio Spurs and given other teams the impression he could be available.

Young has only pushed for the team to start winning, not for a trade. He did acknowledge that it’s rare for players to remain with one franchise their whole careers, though.

“If the Hawks take calls for Young this summer, perhaps no team in the NBA needs him more than the Magic,” Swartz wrote. “This is a chance for Atlanta to reset the roster with young talent and draft picks while still staying competitive with Dejounte Murray, Jalen Johnson, Bogdan Bogdanović, Clint Capela, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey and others.”

Swartz suggests trading Young for a hypothetical package of 2023 top-10 picks Anthony Black and Jett Howard, 2017 No. 6 overall pick Jonathan Isaac, and a pair of first-round picks. 

“The Hawks have actually been better without Young this season (14-14 without him, 22-29 with him) and should sell high while he's still under contract for two more years,” Swartz wrote.

Isaac has rebounded from roughly four years worth of injuries to become a value member of the Magic’s rotation. His length at 6-foot-10 only enhances his defensive and floor-spacing (39.2% 3P this season) capabilities.

Black is shooting 39.1% from deep, though at just 1.4 attempts per game, that could be a fluke.

He is still 6-foot-7 and would offer an intriguing long-term partner alongside Johnson, whose do-it-all game has proven invaluable this season.

It has not clicked for Howard yet. He also comes with a worrisome in jury history, though the Hawks are no strangers to that. And his 6-foot-8 frame and pedigree could warrant a flier in a deal that is largely saved by the draft capital.

But trading the face of the franchise to a division rival seems foolhardy, even in the NBA.

Grade: C-. There isn’t enough talent or draft capital coming back to justify trading Young to an already-ascending rival.