The Atlanta Hawks have not done much to dispel trade rumors surrounding three-time All-Star Trae Young.
An argument can be made that his continued presence on the roster and as the face of the franchise is statement enough. Young also seemingly pushed back on rumors the Hawks would have traded him if a market/offer existed that was to their liking.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes that should be all the signs the Hawks need.
“It isn't shocking to hear crickets on his trade market, especially as Atlanta works to dismantle a roster that was tailored to give Young his best shot at success,” Buckley wrote on September 6.
“This apparent lack of interest should be all the Hawks need to hear, though, to know this isn't the time to move Young. They might be lucky to get 25 cents on the dollar in a deal, and then their inevitable sink down the standings wouldn't even include the normal lottery-odds perks, since the San Antonio Spurs control the Hawks' next three first-round picks.”
Buckley notes Young’s polarizing game features historic numbers but has lacked a consistent impact on winning. The Hawks are 154-172 with Young in the lineup going back to his first All-Star season in 2019-20.
Young is also in Year 3 of a five-year, $215.1 million max contract.
He will be eligible for an extension after the season, a situation that when combined with his $48.9 million player option for 2026-27, could give the Hawks a shorter runway than it seems.
Insider: Trae Young, Hawks in 'bad situation'
“It's a bad situation in Atlanta because the Hawks are in a position where they should be entering what would hopefully be kind of a rapid rebuild but they can't because the Spurs have all their draft capital,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on “The Hoop Collective” podcast on August 30. “They're in this awkward situation where they should be unloading more pieces but it's just not something that – you can't bottom out to make the Spurs better.
MacMahon and show host Brian Windhorst said Young’s trade market was lacking.
Buckley also points to his natural defensive deficiencies at his size as another reason teams might be hesitant to surrender assets. Despite his relatively slight stature, Young had largely been durable in the first five seasons of his career.
He had appeared in at least 60 games in every season, reaching the 70-plus-game mark three times and appearing in 81 games as a rookie.
Young made 54 appearances in 2023-24, with finger surgery interrupting the campaign.
There are several potential pitfalls with moving Young. The main issue is replacing a three-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA selection. The incoming draft class is not viewed particularly favorably, and Young himself said he did not see any franchise cornerstone-type players in it.
That alone is a daunting proposition from a basketball and business (i.e. butts in seats) perspective.
Former Hawks guard Jeff Teague thinks they should keep Young.
“You can't trade Trae Young,” Teague said on the “Club 520” podcast episode that aired on August 22. “You got to still put butts in the seat, bro. He must-see TV when he hoop. He put on shows, he get 40, 28 . Atlanta love him. The fans like him. So it's like, can't do that. Not right now. Unless you about to get, s***, the No. 1 pick.”
Young has made himself a part of the sports fabric in Atlanta, and has always maintained that he wanted to remain with the Hawks. As his desire to win only continues to grow, the Hawks must determine if they can match it.
That should be the key determining factor in whether or not the Hawks trade Young. If they do not see a path to winning with him, it is best to move on too early rather than too late.