As the NBA trade deadline came and went on Thursday, the Atlanta Hawks chose to stay relatively quiet, but rumors suggest they might ramp up activity come the offseason.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reports that several NBA front offices, having heard Atlanta’s pre-deadline discussions, now entertain the idea that Trae Young could be made available for trade during the summer. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs have shown keen interest in acquiring Young.
However, Fischer points out that the notion of trading Young might just be wishful thinking from rival teams.
Nonetheless, if the Hawks do decide to part ways with Young, San Antonio emerges as a prime candidate alongside Los Angeles, given their pursuit of a suitable pick-and-roll partner for their rising star rookie center, Victor Wembanyama.
At 27.1 points, 10.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, Young leads the Hawks statistically and has been their linchpin since entering the NBA as the fifth overall pick in 2018. Nevertheless, indications suggest a potential change of scenery could be on the horizon for the 25-year-old guard.
While there was speculation surrounding the trade deadline about potentially moving Young’s backcourt partner, Dejounte Murray, the Hawks’ stance remained firm, with reports suggesting they were not entirely committed to trading the 27-year-old guard.
Currently standing at 22-29, the Hawks occupy the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference. With hopes of turning their season around in the second half, Atlanta eyes improvement, especially with a remaining schedule strength ranking 19th in the league, according to Tankathon.
Next up for the Hawks is a clash against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday as they aim to make strides in their quest for postseason contention.
