The Atlanta Hawks appear to be close to a separation with point guard Trae Young after an up-and-down eight seasons with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, and trade rumors begin to heat up.
Tim McMahon of ESPN confirmed that Atlanta is looking for an ‘exit ramp’ for the point guard and signaled that it is all but certain that he will be moved before the upcoming trade deadline. However, while the Hawks have expressed interest in making a deal for Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks, Young wouldn’t be a part of that deal, as the Mavs already have Kyrie Irving.
With that said, there are a few possible destinations and trade partners Atlanta could entertain for Young, as after not receiving a contract extension over the summer, his future with the franchise appears to be coming to a close.
Writing for Sports Illustrated, Blake Silverman highlighted four teams in particular, with Dallas looking like an unlikely destination, that could make a trade for Young in hopes of adding a new franchise point guard for the future.
Trae Young Hawks Future Coming To An End
Silverman wrote that the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, and Miami Heat could all be potential suitors for the double-double machine in Young. Some teams have a better case than others, but right now, all seem to be in play as the Hawks explore their options as they look to move on with rising star Jalen Johnson.
Young is on the last guaranteed year of a five-year, $215 million deal he signed with Atlanta in the summer of 2021. He has a player option next season for nearly $50 million, which, at this point, looks like he’ll almost certainly pick up.
Young has been injured for a decent stretch so far this season, but recently returned from a right knee MCL sprain. In ten games this season, the 6’2″ point guard is averaging 19.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 8.9 assists on 41.5% shooting. All of those numbers are a bit down from years past, but as seen with his injury and the apparent direction of the Hawks franchise, he’s been on the outs for most of the year.
“The Hawks certainly are indicating that they’re looking for the exit ramp with Trae Young,” MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective Podcast. “They did not make any attempt to get him signed to an extension. When that’s the case with your face of the franchise, that’s a pretty clear message that the end could be near.”
With all that being said, here are the possible trade destinations if or when Atlanta makes a deal to send Young out.
Trae Young Trade Destinations
The Bucks would make a trade for Young because it pairs franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo with a proven playmaker and scorer. It would require them to give up a decent amount of assets, but if it means keeping the Greek Freak in town for a bit longer, it’s hard to see them passing a trade like this up.
Bucks receive: Trae Young
Hawks receive: Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Andre Jackson Jr., 2026 first-round pick (least favorable of Milwaukee and New Orleans)
Similarly, the Timberwolves would trade for Young because they need a proven point guard. They’ve made efforts in the draft in the past, but none of their prospects have panned out as planned to give star Anthony Edwards a lighter playmaking responsibility. Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle would be the highlight of the package, it would just depend on how much they prioritize rim-protection.
Timberwolves receive: Trae Young
Hawks receive: Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham
The Kings would make a Young trade to reinvigorate the franchise. They have aging stars, and with a new report on them hearing deals for Dennis Schroder, that could signal that they are also looking for a new point guard to lead them into the future.
Kings receive: Trae Young
Hawks receive: Zach LaVine, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick swap
Finally, the Heat takes a risk to add Young to take advantage of their time with Bam Adebayo. They have the assets, and with his and Young’s playstyle, they could work well together to get Miami out of their consistent Play-In Tournament status.
Heat receive: Trae Young
Hawks receive: Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, 2026 first-round pick swap, 2029 first-round pick
Regardless of whether the Hawks made a deal with any of these teams or not, Young doesn’t appear to have a long future in Atlanta.
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