In the opinion of some NBA executives, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young may eventually request a trade.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report looked at the offseason prospects for each NBA team and noted how the executives are wondering about Young’s future with the Hawks.
“The Hawks’ payroll isn’t sustainable based on market and production level,” Pincus wrote. “Competing executives don’t believe the team will move Trae Young this offseason, though some anticipate the guard may eventually push for a trade.”
Young was the fifth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. He was actually drafted by the Dallas Mavericks before a deal with the Hawks involving fellow draft pick Luka Doncic sent him to Atlanta.
In Young’s five NBA seasons, he’s more than lived up to his draft stature. Over the course of his career, the 24-year-old Young has averaged 25.5 points, 9.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game.
Numbers like that help explain why the Hawks gave him a whopping five-year contract extension in August 2021 worth over $200 million. He earned $37.1 million this past season and is set to make over $40 million per year in each of the remaining seasons on the deal.
Yet, despite Young’s individual heroics, the Hawks as a team have made only one serious playoff run during his time with the team. That came during the 2021 playoffs when the squad reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
Since that impressive effort, the Hawks have watched the past two seasons end in first-round playoff losses. The most recent came in a six-game defeat to the Boston Celtics, with Young’s clutch play on the road in Game 5 helping extend the series.
Keeping Young beyond his current deal may become problematic for the Hawks, as he holds an early termination option for the final year of his deal. Young’s future with the team could also be connected to how well he bonds with head coach Quin Snyder.
In addition, Young’s possible frustration with the lack of team success may potentially result in a trade request. Such a prospect isn’t unique, with Anthony Davis being one example as he was dealt by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019.
Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly looked at trying to acquire Young. How much they, or any other team, might offer this offseason could determine whether the Hawks pursue a deal.
