The Atlanta Hawks have become synonymous with mediocrity. For the past five seasons, the team has hovered around .500 basketball. Their record since the 2020-21 season is 168-167—a portrait of inconsistency. While it’s unfair to put all the blame on Trae Young, he does deserve some culpability with his heliocentric style of play. This perpetual mediocrity should force the Hawks to make a tough decision about Trae Young.
Hawks Face Crossroads With Trae Young
In 2024-25, the trend of mediocrity continues. They follow thrilling victories with blowout losses, unable to break the cycle. This week, they edged out the Sacramento Kings in a nail-biter but were obliterated by the Golden State Warriors shortly after. While the team’s results frustrate fans, the emergence of a bright young prospect like Dyson Daniels offers a glimmer of hope. Daniels has shown flashes of star potential, particularly on defense.
Dyson Daniels Emerges as a Defensive Star
Daniels has been a defensive revelation for Atlanta. He boasts the unique ability to influence games on that end. In the Hawks’ win over Sacramento, Daniels had four blocks and a game-winning strip of De’Aaron Fox. Earlier this month, he recorded an astounding 25 steals in just four games.
Although his offensive game is still developing, Daniels contributes by finishing at the rim and creating extra possessions. With time, he could become a two-way star, but his development hinges on Atlanta’s ability to prioritize him in the lineup.
Trae Young’s Declining Efficiency
Unfortunately for the Hawks, Trae Young’s struggles have created a significant roadblock for the team and its young core. Young’s numbers this season are among the worst of his career. He averages 22.1 points and a league-leading 11.7 assists but on inefficient shooting splits 38.4% from the field and 32.8% from three. His true shooting percentage of 54.7 is the second lowest of his career.
Young is also turning the ball over at a near career-high rate of 4.6 per game, while his defense continues to be a liability. Worse still, his high-usage, heliocentric style appears to stunt the growth of Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jalen Johnson.
Trae Young’s Contract: An Albatross for Atlanta
The Hawks gave Young a massive five-year, $215 million contract in 2021, but it’s already looking like a burden. In 2024-25, Young earns $43 million, yet his diminishing impact makes him less valuable. Moving Young via trade seems nearly impossible. His defensive shortcomings, inefficiency, and high usage make him a tough sell in today’s guard-heavy NBA. Teams are less inclined to gamble on a player with these flaws, particularly one earning such a high salary. The contract could gain trade value in its final year, but waiting that long risks stunting the development of Atlanta’s promising young players.
The Hawks’ Three Options
Atlanta faces a difficult decision with Young. The team can:
- Continue to Tread Water: Staying the course means enduring more mediocrity and potentially wasting the potential of their rising stars.
- Try to Trade Young: Finding a trade partner seems improbable right now, but it’s worth exploring as the situation worsens.
- Bench Young: Moving Young to a sixth-man role would maximize Daniels, Risacher, and Johnson. However, this approach risks locker room tension.
The Time is now for the Hawks to Make a Trae Young Decision
The Hawks can’t afford to delay this decision. Daniels has star potential, and the young core needs space to grow. Keeping Trae Young as the focal point may keep the Hawks competitive, but it ensures more mediocrity. Making a bold decision now could set the stage for a brighter future. Atlanta must act before its young stars’ development stalls further, the franchise’s future hinges on it.
