Possible Trae Young Trade Destination?
When Trae Young was drafted and traded to the Atlanta Hawks during the 2018 NBA draft, the Hawks doubled down on Young as their franchise centerpiece. Unfortunately, five years later, the relationship has soured dramatically between Young and the Hawks organization. Three different coaches, three playoff appearances, one Conference Final, and recent trade rumors have all exemplified this. It is easy to say that the Hawks organization and Young would not describe the past five years as one of success.
During this past offseason, Atlanta was looking to make a splash in the trade market. They saw their Eastern Conference rivals in Philadelphia, Miami, New York, and Boston all add to their roster. Atlanta’s move came in the form of acquiring All-Star and All-Defense candidate Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs. This was Atlanta’s idea of going “all in” as sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari and four 1st round picks were sent to San Antonio. With this, the Hawks acquired one of the best defensive guards in the NBA but also an offensive threat that could take the weight off of Young on the offensive end. Murray experienced a solid first season in Atlanta. But he was clearly playing second fiddle to Young.
Recently, trade rumors surrounding Young have heated up. The Hawks also seem to have the approval to seek trades for Young this off-season. The question that now arises is: which team wants Trae Young?
Who Would Want Trae Young?
The list of people who want a player of Young’s pedigree and talent should be endless. But, in light of recent news, that list could be shorter than expected. Young’s reputation has taken a hit in the current light due to the fact that he was central in the firing of former coach Nate McMillan. This is also evident in The Athletic article, which polled 108 NBA players that called Young the most overrated player in the league. As a result of these circumstances, it may be more challenging to convince a GM that Young is a player that can bring that team an NBA championship.
However, Young is among the most talented players in the league and carries an offensive load that only a few can rival. With that lies another potential problem that Young possesses: he is a one-sided player. Any team willing to trade for him would experience a drop-off defensively. Despite that, the Rockets, Lakers, Raptors, and Magic have seemed to emerge as some potential candidates for a Trae Young trade. However, a trade to the New Orleans Pelicans would make the most sense for both sides.
What About New Orleans as a Trade Partner?
For New Orleans, the trade would be centered around All-Star guard CJ McCollum. Multiple first-round picks will also have to be at play in order to get the deal done. Although, for both teams, this could very well benefit them. The Pelicans, who would acquire their “all-in” piece in Young, will immediately emerge as genuine contenders in the Western Conference. They would also be able to surround Zion Williamson with another All-NBA caliber player. The team also wouldn’t suffer defensively, as the Pelicans have built up a solid defensive team by drafting the likes of Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones. Although, one of them may have to be given up.
The trade itself could look like this:
Atlanta acquires:
- CJ McCollum
- Herbert Jones or Jose Alvarado
- Three first-round picks
New Orleans acquires:
- Trae Young
Trae Young Trade: A Fresh Start
For Young, a trade would benefit him as well. He is one of the most polarizing players in the league and has happily taken on a villain persona at moments. Perhaps the Pelicans are willing to take the risk and insert another offensive juggernaut next to Zion. Young may be a defensive liability and has yet to carry his team to a championship. But, in a new situation, that may not be the case. Perhaps Young needs a new stop and role on his basketball journey toward claiming the ultimate prize: being an NBA champion.
