The Atlanta Hawks season started with so much promise. A trade with the San Antonio Spurs to bring Dejounte Murray over last year and pair him with Trae Young to create one of the most talented backcourts in the NBA was an exciting idea. Less than a eight months later, it looks as if the franchise will pursue an alternative route.
According to a recent article by Howard Beck in The Ringer, Trae Young could be on the move in the near future. The NBA trade deadline has already passed but one Eastern Conference executive was quoted as saying “He’s available.” The article goes on to say that the Hawks discussed a potential trade with the San Antonio Spurs for the three-time All-Star prior to the deadline.
“‘I think they would love to trade Trae,’ a Western Conference exec said of the Hawks,” stated Beck.
“I think they would love to trade Trae.”
– Western Conference exec on the Atlanta Hawks
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 15, 2024
Young was originally drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the fifth overall pick in 2018 but traded to the Hawks shortly after. The 25-year-old has developed into one of the leagues top scorers and helped guide the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021.
This season, Young is averaging 26.7 points, 10.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds and is shooting 42.7 percent from the field.
Young signed a five-year contract with the Hawks worth just over $215 million that sees him contracted to the team through the 2027 season.
The trade for Dejounte Murray cost the Hawks three first-round picks and has failed to materialize the way the organization had hoped. Atlanta is currently 24-31 this year and sit tenth in the Eastern Conference standings. The organization may look to rebuild next year with both Young and Murray potentially up for trade.
