After years of trade rumors, it would appear that Trae Young’s time in Atlanta has finally come to an end. On January 5th, at 4:53 PM, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that both parties are looking to part ways. It was later reported that Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, and Washington are his desired destinations.
Just 48 hours into the breaking news cycle, the media believes the Wizards are the leading candidates in the Trae Young sweepstakes. ESPN reporter Bobby Marks explained why the trade would benefit both rosters if completed.
"Young is at $46 million. When you look at the Wizards' cap sheet, they have two big expiring contracts." Marks continued with, "They’ve got CJ Mcullom, who’s at $30.7 [million], and Khris Middleton, who’s at $33.3 [million], so for Atlanta’s perspective, you’re looking at McCollum and what else can come.”
Marks views the trade as an opportunity for Atlanta to find some financial relief while also acquiring some complementary pieces to build around Jalen Johnson for the future.
“Maybe like AJ Johnson or [Cam] Whitmore, two young players, and can we also get the pick from Oklahoma City that’s gonna be the 30th pick in the draft.”
It would certainly put the Hawks in a great position moving forward, and regardless of his polarizing status among the fanbase, the All-Star point guard has displayed immense dedication to the team that drafted him. Some might view the Trae Young era as a failure, but now that it’s officially over, it’s time to analyze the legacy as he departs from Atlanta.
How good was Trae on the Hawks?
Trae was bound to face adversity from the start after being traded on draft night for Luka Dončić, an All-NBA talent who is destined to win the MVP award. From the moment their careers began, they were compared, both tasked with reviving struggling franchises.
Dončić led the Mavericks stampede while Young helped the Hawks soar again, and the star guards would meet in the All-Star game on multiple occasions. Their paths would diverge in 2021, with Young breaking through and leading a 41-31 Hawks team to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Young helped the Hawks steal game one in Milwaukee, 116-113, scoring 48 points and dishing out 11 assists. The Hawks would lose the next two games, but Game 3 arguably changed the franchise's trajectory after Trae suffered the infamous bone bruise in his right ankle.
It was considered a freak accident due to Young inadvertently stepping on referee Sean Wright’s foot. The Hawks rallied without their leader in Game 4, defeating the Bucks 110-88. Unfortunately, it would be the final time the Hawks tasted victory past the first round with Young as their centerpiece.
The Bucks would advance past the ECF and defeat the Phoenix Suns to claim the 2021 NBA title. Giannis Antetokounmpo put on one of the greatest performances in Finals history to take home Finals MVP. Many thought Atlanta had ‘arrived’ after this, but they suffered multiple seasons of mediocrity, even after signing All-Star guard Dejounte Murray as a co-star next to Young.
In the next five years following the ECF appearance, Atlanta would go 177-189 with Young as their leader. Of course, he became a 4x All-Star leading into the present day, but outside of individual success, there wasn’t much to celebrate during the “Trae Young era.”
He will be remembered as one of the greatest Hawks to ever represent the city of Atlanta, and rightfully so, as the franchise leader in assists. The only negative thing Young will be remembered for is being the leader of a losing team. Unlike Dominique Wilkins and Dikembe Mutombo, who both led the Hawks to positive records during their eras.
As we close the book on Young’s chapter in Atlanta, it should be mentioned that he tried his absolute best with what the front office gave him. In eight years with the Hawks, he averaged an incredible 25.2 points and 9.8 assists.
Six of his eight years were spent with a poor supporting cast and an incompetent front office. His former GM, Landry Fields, was fired due to poor performance, and the owner, Tony Ressler, didn’t relinquish the financial leash on the franchise until Young’s final season, literally.
Trae Young is a terrific player who brings a plethora of skills to any team, despite his defensive liabilities. He’s made a name for himself in the NBA while standing at 6’1, an anomaly in the modern day. Regardless of the rumors, what’s the fact is that he left his mark on the city of Atlanta, and Hawks fans of the future will forever ask about the number 11 jersey that hangs from the rafters of the State Farm Arena.