Though the Atlanta Hawks look like a franchise entering a rebuilding stage, there’s one problem: they don’t control any of their own first-round picks until 2028. Consequently, if the Hawks were to tank, it wouldn’t benefit them. It wouldn’t accelerate their rebuild. Instead, they’d just be wasting more of Trae Young’s prime.
Of course, Young is the key to all of this.
Hawks Should Keep Trae Young, Make Blockbuster Trade
Had the San Antonio Spurs placed greater value in Young, the Hawks may have been able to get the first-round picks they traded for Dejounte Murray back. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Young isn’t the type of star that Gregg Popovich usually goes after. He’s too untrustworthy defensively, has a poor reputation with head coaches, and is pretty self-interested. Ultimately, he’s not the best option for them as they look to optimize the Victor Wembanyama years.
Still, there are several other franchises that could land a top-five pick in the upcoming draft.
The Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets are in rebuilds as well. Among these teams, the Wizards and Nets are the most likely bidders for Young due to their need at point guard. Of those two options, Brooklyn is the only one in control of their 2025 first round pick.
With Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler expressing interest in signing with the Nets next offseason, it could even enhance their desire to trade for Young. They could shave years off their rebuild with those two joining Nic Claxton. However, Brooklyn hasn’t had much success with their blockbuster moves, and may prefer to accumulate talent through the draft.
2026 Is The Magic Number
In the end, the Hawks likely have to wait until 2026 if they want another lottery pick.
Though they still wouldn’t have their own first-rounder, Young’s list of suitors could grow. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, Dallas Mavericks guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier could all become free agents, creating a hole at the 1. Among those teams, the Heat, Thunder, Mavs, and Kings will control their own 2026 first-rounders. If Butler does leave Miami next offseason, theirs could be the most valuable.
Yet, because Young has a player option for 2026-27, they’d still be in between a rock and a hard place. The playmaker could become a free agent in 2026, signing with a new team outright rather than waiting to be traded. Indeed, he may prefer to take his destiny into his own hands, as many players do. If so, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers may even become realistic landing spots.
The Best Solution
In the end, the Hawks’ best option is to make a splash trade as soon as possible. By taking this path, they maximize Young’s next couple of years, and give themselves a better chance to keep him after.
Atlanta’s players aren’t too valuable to other teams. However, there are several stars who teams are ambivalent about, but who could make a difference in the right situation. Right now, the most affordable options are likely Bulls wing Zach LaVine and New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. In fact, the Bulls may even attach an asset to LaVine to move him in a trade.
A Simple Question
LaVine and Ingram are scoring-minded players who have both averaged over 23 points per game over the past five seasons. They get theirs in different ways. LaVine loves to slash and shoot from deep. Ingram is a midrange maestro but can also knock shots down from 3.
Yet, they’re not considered winning players because they’re not making a dynamic enough impact. They can make plays for others, but hold onto the ball too long. They could be better defenders, but don’t play with enough effort. As a result, a number of teams believe LaVine is overpaid and that Ingram wants too high a salary in a contract extension.
The Hawks could be one of those teams as well, but that’s not important. What matters is whether acquiring LaVine or Ingram is a better option than keeping some combination of Clint Capela, De’Andre Hunter, Larry Nance Jr., and Onyeka Okongwu.
Frankly, it is.
Not just because Hunter’s career scoring average is nearly 10 points lower than what LaVine and Ingram have averaged in that time. With that being said, the Hawks will need somebody who they can count on offensively besides Young. Not just because having Capela, Okongwu, and Nance on the roster is unnecessary. To that point, though there are differences between the three, there’s even more overlap.
It’s because of both of those issues. It’s because of the conundrum they find themselves in with Young and the rebuild. Essentially, the Hawks don’t have any perfect choices, but there’s one that they clearly have to make.
