Insider sheds light on league interest in Hawks' Trae Young amid trade speculation

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young is not viewed as a good fit alongside 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembyama by some within the San Antonio Spurs organization.

That, says Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, has led to a “vastly overstated” rumored interest in acquiring the three-time All-Star. But Fischer notes that all is not lost if the Hawks are aiming to trade Young this offseason. It just might be more difficult than anticipated

“The Lakers, for example, are one team that holds interest in Young after Los Angeles held trade discussions with Atlanta about Dejounte Murray back in February, sources said,” Fischer wrote on May 15. “But Los Angeles will have to consider other options before committing any type of capital for Young.”

Young’s switch from Klutch Sports to CAA could further complicate a trade to the Lakers.

This is Young’s polarizing reputation in action. Young has led the NBA in total assists and points, was on the 2018 All-Rookie Team, and even earned All-NBA honors.

Despite guiding his team to the Eastern Conference Finals three seasons ago, the 25-year-old star’s style of play is widely seen as non-conducive to championship basketball while his slight frame has proven problematic defensively. 

Young also has a $47 million player option for his five-year, $215.1 million contract for 2026-27.

“Donovan Mitchell, for starters, would rate far above Young on the league’s open market,” Fischer wrote. “An unofficial poll of executives in Chicago also suggests Pelicans wing Brandon Ingram will have a wider range of teams interested in acquiring the one-time All-Star, as compared to Young, should New Orleans truly explore a roster shake-up of that magnitude.”

Mitchell still has two more seasons on his contract. Ingram meanwhile has dealt with injuries throughout his career and will need to be paid after next season.

It paints a complicated situation for the Hawks.

General Manager Landry Fields has stopped short of committing to Young, instead continually noting that he would do what’s best for the organization. The Hawks’ activities leading up to the trade deadline suggest they aren’t convinced.

They held talks with the Spurs about a Young trade, but those did not get far. Still, teams came away from that transaction window with a sense the Hawks would revisit the idea.

Trae Young gets real about future with Hawks

Young, for his part, has not pushed for a trade publicly. To the contrary, he has maintained that he wants to bring a championship to Atlanta. 

But Young has put greater emphasis on the winning aspect of his assertion in recent comments.

“Everybody knows, obviously, I want to be in Atlanta,” Young said on the “From The Point” podcast on April 30. “When I was drafted, that’s where I wanted to spend my whole career. But at the same time, I want to win. So if we’re not on the same page wanting to win now…

“There’s times teams want to take their time, be slow with winning, their process. It’s just, I’m not there anymore. I want to win, and I’ve always been that way, so. I don’t feel like I have very much time to waste. I just want to continue to play at a high level, and I feel like I can do that: play at a high level and win.”

Fields has said he has no plans on taking a step back and has touted the myriad options landing the No. 1 overall pick has afforded them, even without a clear-cut top prospect.

The fate of the Hawks’ star backcourt remains the most pressing issue.