All-Star guard Trae Young is finally moving toward a return. The Atlanta Hawks announced that their franchise point guard is âexpected to return to practice next weekâ as he continues ramping up on-court reconditioning following the right knee MCL sprain he suffered on Oct. 29. Itâs the most encouraging update the team has provided since the injury, and it arrives at a moment when Atlanta desperately needs stability.
Young has now missed 21 games, the result of an awkward collision with teammate Mouhamed Gueye during the first quarter of a win over the Brooklyn Nets. Gueye lost his balance after contact and fell backward into Youngâs knee, causing it to bend unnaturally. Young immediately grabbed at the joint and required assistance to reach the locker room. An MRI confirmed an MCL sprain, serious enough to sideline him long term, but without structural damage that would have threatened his season.
Before the injury, Young averaged 17.8 points and 7.8 assists in five appearances. Atlanta has gone 12-9 without him and enters the weekend at 14-12, holding ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The record is respectable considering the circumstances, but the Hawks have dropped four of their last five and remain buried in nightly injury reports. Youngâs return to practice represents the first real turning point.
Hawks Survive Youngâs Absence Behind Emerging Core
Atlanta hasnât collapsed without its star, and thatâs partly why this next phase of the season could be so revealing. Jalen Johnson has blossomed into a legitimate centerpiece, averaging 23.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been a revelation as well, posting 20.7 points per game during Youngâs absence and giving the Hawks another dynamic perimeter threat.
These performances matter beyond temporary production. The Hawks are entering an identity crossroads. Young is under contract through 2025-26 and holds a player option for 2026-27 that he is widely expected to decline. Kristaps PorziÅÄ£is, who has played only 13 games this season, is heading toward free agency. Meanwhile, Atlantaâs younger core of Johnson (23), Zaccharie Risacher (20), Dyson Daniels (22), and Onyeka Okongwu (25) has taken meaningful steps forward.
Atlanta also holds the right to swap first-round picks with the New Orleans Pelicans. At 4â22, New Orleans could hand the Hawks a shot at an elite 2025 prospect such as Kansas Jayhawks combo guard Darryn Peterson, BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa, or Duke Blue Devils center Cameron Boozer. That potential franchise-altering asset only heightens the stakes around Youngâs future.
A Post-Injury Evaluation Period and a Trade Question
Once Young returns, the Hawks will get their first extended look at how he meshes with a lineup that has grown more self-sufficient in his absence. That evaluation window may also determine how the front office approaches Februaryâs trade deadline. If Atlanta decides to fully commit to its youth-driven timeline, Young could become a trade candidate, especially if the league-wide appetite for elite creators outweighs concerns about his size or defensive limitations.
There are also practical concerns: rival teams may be hesitant to trade assets for a player who could reach free agency in 18 months. Youngâs return to form, conditioning, and chemistry with the rising core will influence those conversations.
For now, the priority is simple. Getting Young back on the court, potentially near Christmas, would stabilize a Hawks team still searching for consistency and allow Atlanta to finally assess its long-term direction with its All-Star point guard actually playing.
Youngâs rehab has included increased on-court work with no setbacks, and team officials are encouraged by his progress. After weeks of uncertainty, the Hawks finally have momentum. The next update could be the one Atlanta has been waiting for: a firm return-to-play timeline.
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