News Now: Updates on Trae Young’s Trading Market

The Atlanta Hawks will enter 2024-25 with Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher as main players.

Dyson Daniels, who will most likely come off the bench behind Young, has also arrived in Atlanta. Daniels, the No. 8 pick in 2022, is a gigantic playmaker standing 6-foot-8 and 199 pounds. Daniels, given his stature and defensive ability, could easily start. Nonetheless, given he is a lifetime 31.2 percent 3-point shooter, he may not gel well with the starting lineup.

Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu are not instilling fear in their opponents beyond the arc. Johnson has made 32.8 percent of his 3-pointers in his career. Risacher, the No. 1 pick in 2024, has made only 25.0 percent of his three-point attempts in Summer League. As a result, starting Bogdan Bogdanovic or De’Andre Hunter is a more viable option. Hunter’s on-ball defense makes him the better option. At the end of last season, the 26-year-old grew accustomed to playing on the bench because it allowed him to be more aggressive offensively.

However, with Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans, Hunter should be able to earn the touches he seeks with the first unit. If that happens, he might score more than 20 points a game for the first time this season. With the five-year veteran scoring 20 or more points a career-high 19 times last season, the Hawks may be counting on him to do just that.

Updates on Trae Young’s Trade Market
From a readiness aspect, Atlanta appears to be behind where they were last season.

If this is the true, it’s understandable that Young is dissatisfied with his supporting cast. After all, the three-time All-Star has stated repeatedly that his major goal at this point in his career is to win in the postseason.

With this lineup, the Hawks are not even assured to make the playoffs.

However, even though Atlanta has already split up their backcourt tandem, Young might still be moved.

Landry Fields, Hawks general manager, refused to publicly commit to the franchise’s face this month. Furthermore, receiving their first-round choices back from the San Antonio Spurs is definitely the best-case scenario. Atlanta owes San Antonio two first-round picks plus a first-round pick swap over the next three drafts. Even worse for the Hawks, the 2025 and 2026 NBA drafts are keenly anticipated.

The most obvious way to recoup their first-round picks would be to trade Youg to the Spurs. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, “the Spurs’ and Lakers’ interest in Young has lessened in recent months…but such doors never close.”

No need for Trae Young.
San Antonio does not have a specific need for Young after drafting Stephon Castle and signing Chris Paul.

Paul, who is on a one-year contract, will definitely open the season as the starter. However, the 39-year-old’s career is coming to an end, and it is closer than it seems. Castle is expected to be the team’s starting point guard after Paul’s departure. However, Juan Nuñez, the No. 36 choice in 2024, may compete for the position upon his return from Spain.

Trae Young has a long history with Los Angeles.

The Lakers could potentially get Young around the second apron if they give the Hawks a package that includes Austin Reaves and two first-round picks. To be honest, this would be very similar to their return for Young. Nonetheless, given Young’s hefty salary, poor locker room reputation, and selfish on-court behaviors, it could be the best they can get.

There are various reasons to assume the Lakers would not make the move, however.

To begin, they have discreetly campaigned against the Big 3 model because to the fines imposed on high-salary teams. Second, Los Angeles has been particularly reluctant to split ways with Reaves. Finally, the Lakers recently hired Nate McMillan, the former Hawks head coach, as an assistant. McMillan was arguably only available as a result of a widely documented quarrel with Young. To that point, with JJ Redick as the first-year head coach, the scenario might become too explosive.