For much of the last season, the expectation was that the Atlanta Hawks would move on from former All-NBA guard Trae Young this summer. However, it seems less likely now than before that Young has played his final game for the Hawks. The team recently shipped out Young’s backcourt partner Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. Additionally, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Young’s trade market “is as chilly as it’s ever been.” Lowe also mentioned that the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, two teams linked to Young, do not have much interest in acquiring the 25-year-old.
“Young is potent enough to keep the Hawks around .500, and they don’t have much incentive to tank so long as the Spurs control their first-round picks through 2027 thanks to the original Murray trade. The smoothest way to reclaim those picks is trading Young to the Spurs, but San Antonio has not shown much recent interest in that, sources said. The Spurs understand the potential value of those picks, and they (for now) appear to favor holding them hostage over swapping them back to Atlanta.”
“The Lakers, too, have shown little recent interest in Young, sources said. That could change if the price drops to L.A.’s liking. But the market for Young is as chilly as it has ever been.”
REPORT: “Little Recent Interest” For Atlanta Hawks Star
The San Antonio Spurs No Longer Need Trae Young
The idea of adding Young was intriguing from San Antonio’s perspective. Pairing an elite offensive-minded guard next to Victor Wembanyama would have added a new element to the team. However, in April, NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin reported that the Spurs did not see the Hawks star “as a fit” next to Wembanyama.
“Spurs fans have been buzzing about the team getting in the mix for a Trae Young trade this summer, as he is the most acclaimed point guard likely to be available. League sources have told NBC Sports not to bet on that happening, as San Antonio doesn’t see Young as a fit with Wembanyama going forward.”
Additionally, the Spurs recently signed legendary point guard Chris Paul as a free agent. With the acquisition of Paul, it does not make sense for the Spurs to explore a trade for Young.
The Los Angeles Lakers Are Unlikely to Make a Big Splash This Summer, Including a Trade for Trae Young
Earlier in the season, reports indicated that the Lakers were aiming to acquire a third star to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Young’s name was one of the most popular ones thrown around in the rumor mill. However, nothing has come of it. Recently, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he does not expect the team to make a major move this summer.
“They’ll certainly use them if there’s a player that makes sense as part of a bigger deal, but right now, they’re not involved in any deals that would land them a third star. They’re seeing the landscape of this league and that the three-star model, with this salary cap, doesn’t work or it’s much more difficult for it to work.”
The offseason is still young, and things can change during the summer. However, as it stands, it seems like Young is going to stand pat for at least one more year.
