Grade the trade: Proposed 3-team blockbuster sees Hawks 'end failed experiment'

Spurs make out like bandits in 3-team trade proposal (Trae Young and Josh Giddey)

Part of why the Hawks received such a poor grade in this hypothetical scenario is because of how much of a no-brainer it would be for the Spurs, who would acquire a pair of dynamic playmakers to pair with their transcendent big man, Victor Wembanyama.

Young is a pick-and-roll savant who is equally adept at feeding his bigs on lobs as he is sinking floaters. 

The similarities between the two motions can leave defenders frozen.

Those abilities would be amplified alongside Wembanyama who led the league in blocks and won Rookie of the Year. He was a legitimate candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, a perfect backline player to pair with the undersized Young.

Josh Giddey was the future for the Thunder before they landed their version of Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in 2023.

Giddey isn’t a great shooter, connecting on a career-high 33.7% of his deep looks in 2023-24.

He also isn’t going to help the Spurs defensively either. But he is 6-foot-8 and can orchestrate an offense much in the same fashion as former No. 20 overall pick Jalen Johnson, a candidate for Most Improved Player before injuries disqualified him.

Giddey – the No. 6 overall pick in 2021 – might not experience that kind of breakout with the Spurs, especially sharing the ball-handling duties with Young while Wembanyama shines. 

But he can be a valuable piece that diversifies the Spurs’ attack.

Grade – A: for the cost of a couple of role players who don’t move the needle and some draft picks which could very well be at the back end of the first-round, this would be a no-brainer.