All-star guard Trae Young is officially on the doorstep of returning, and the timing could not be more complicated for the Atlanta Hawks.
Atlanta recalled Young from the G Leagueâs College Park Skyhawks on Wednesday, signaling that the All-Star guard is nearing game action after missing time with a right knee MCL sprain suffered Oct. 29. His earliest chance to return would come Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets, though he remains doubtful until the Hawks release their official injury report.
The recall ends the waiting period. Now comes the evaluation.
Atlanta Thrived and Changed Without Its Star
The Hawks have not collapsed in Youngâs absence. In fact, theyâve quietly stabilized.
Atlanta has gone 14-9 since Young went down, keeping itself just one game out of third place in the Eastern Conference. The ball has moved more freely. The defense has shown incremental progress. Most importantly, new leadership has emerged.
Jalen Johnson has taken a clear leap into All-Star territory. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 22.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three. He has become Atlantaâs connective tissue on both ends, functioning as a scorer, facilitator, and defensive anchor.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also flourished in an expanded role. Acquired in a sign-and-trade from Minnesota, Alexander-Walker stepped into the starting point guard spot and delivered career-best production across the board. He is averaging 20.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three on just over seven attempts per game. Beyond the scoring bump, his size and defensive versatility have helped Atlanta hold up better at the point of attack.
That improvement shows up in the numbers. Last season, with Young playing 76 games, Atlanta ranked 19th in defensive rating and finished as the leagueâs fourth-worst scoring defense. This season, largely without him, the Hawks sit 15th in defensive rating and 20th in points allowed. It is not a massive leap, but it is a meaningful one, especially for a roster leaning younger.
The Fit Question Is Now the Franchise Question
Youngâs return forces Atlanta to answer a question it has managed to delay. Can this evolving version of the Hawks coexist with its longtime offensive engine?
HoopsHype reporter Michael Scotto highlighted the stakes while discussing Youngâs future. Atlanta did not reach an extension with Young this offseason. With Young injured and the roster growing without him, the Hawks want to see how he assimilates back into the group before committing long-term.
âTheyâve also had a better defensive rating without Trae,â Scotto noted, adding that executives are already thinking ahead to Youngâs looming player option.
Young holds a $48.9 million player option for next season, a number he is widely expected to decline in pursuit of long-term security. Atlanta can offer the most money. Whether it chooses to do so depends on what the next few months reveal.
The Hawks are not actively moving on from Young. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain in Atlanta. But the organization now has leverage it did not previously possess: proof that the team can function, and grow, without him dominating the ball.
Why This Return Matters More Than the Box Score
Young does not need to be perfect immediately. He needs to be adaptable. Atlanta is no longer evaluating whether Young can score. That is a given. The real test will be whether he can lift a defense-forward lineup without stalling Johnsonâs rise or undoing the defensive gains made in his absence.
This is no longer just a rehab return. It is an audition. The Hawks finally have clarity on what they are becoming. Trae Youngâs return will determine whether he remains part of that future or whether Atlantaâs quiet evolution forces a much louder decision.
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