NBA insider Shams Charania just dropped a bomb on Monday night, reporting that Trae Young and his representatives are working with the Atlanta Hawks to facilitate a trade.
“Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young and his agents, Aaron Mintz, Drew Morrison and Austin Brown, are working with the franchise on a trade, sources tell ESPN. Young’s reps and the Hawks have started collaborative talks over the last week on finding a resolution,” Charania reported on Twitter/X.
“The Hawks and Young’s agents have maintained positive dialogue on his future ever since the franchise elected not to offer a contract extension last summer ahead of his 2026 player option,” Charania continued. “Now the sides are working together on a trade out of Atlanta.”
The Trae Young rumors have been floating around for a while, and they really picked up steam when the Hawks opted not to offer him a contract extension in the offseason. That decision told the entire NBA world they were skeptical about his future in Atlanta, and unfortunately, this season hasn’t done Young many favors in the eyes of the front office. He’s been injured for much of the year, and in the ten games he has played, the Hawks are just 2–8, compared to a 15–12 mark without him on the floor.
Now, those numbers don’t tell the whole story. The Hawks are not a better team without Trae Young. However, Young really needed to prove to the new front office that he and rising star Jalen Johnson could not only coexist, but potentially compete with the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. With the trade deadline just a month away, there’s little evidence that is happening. Time is running out, and Young is dealing with yet another injury.
The question now becomes who might be interested in the four-time All-Star point guard. According to Marc Stein, the Wizards have emerged as a potential suitor.
“The Washington Wizards have emerged as a legitimate trade destination for Atlanta’s Trae Young, The Stein Line has learned,” Stein reported.
“The teams, according to league sources, have been discussing a trade construction centered around CJ McCollum‘s expiring contract.”
Unfortunately for the Hawks, this isn’t going to be the blockbuster return some might have hoped for with Trae Young. Stein even suggests Atlanta could be forced to include draft capital just to get Washington to absorb Young’s contract. I’m not sure they will have to go that far, but the point remains: the return is likely to be underwhelming.
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Photo: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
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