The San Antonio Spurs were rumored to be interested in Trae Young last offseason, but a trade with the point guard never materialized. San Antonio now has their future point guard in De’Aaron Fox, whom they acquired ahead of the NBA trade deadline. However, a deal for Young may still make sense.
The Atlanta Hawks are on track to blow things up. They lost both of their Play-in Tournament games, missing the postseason for the second consecutive year. Some fans have criticized Young and his lack of defense, and with the four-time All-Star leading the way, the Hawks’ ceiling appears to be capped.
The Hawks have just fired general manager Landry Fields, and a Young trade could be the next step.
Spurs’ trade proposal for Trae YoungHawks get: Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Blake Wesley. 2025 first-round selection (via Atlanta), 2027 first-round pick, and 2029 first-round pick.
Spurs obtain Trae Young.
At first appearance, the Spurs appear to have no need for a point guard. Chris Paul was instrumental in developing Victor Wembanyama during his second season in the NBA, and the all-time great point guard even played in all 82 games for the first time in his career. Furthermore, the team’s move for Fox was widely praised around the basketball globe.
However, Paul has already had one of the longest NBA careers, and he is not under contract for the following season, so retirement or a new house may be on the future for Paul. Fox has also played with other point guards before. Fox spent time with the Sacramento Kings, playing with Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt, and he got along well with Paul until suffering a season-ending injury.
Fox is a speed devil who thrives throughout transitions. Meanwhile, Young thrives in the half-court due to his excellent range and elite playmaking abilities. Speaking of Young’s playmaking skills, he is fresh off of a season when he led the NBA in assists per game (11.6).
Having someone who can get Wembanyama the ball will be critical going forward, and Young is at his finest when sending lobs or dump-off passes to his center.
A big three of Wembanyama, Fox, and Young would be nearly unbeatable, especially given the spacing they provide. Some fans may be concerned that there may not be enough shots to go around, as the Phoenix Suns have experienced in recent years, but Fox and Young are both high-assist players.
Furthermore, Wembanyama would be able to compensate for Young’s primary weakness: defense. Young’s difficulties on that end of the court have kept the Hawks from becoming genuinely competitive. However, Wembanyama is the finest defensive player League
He was on track to win the Defensive Player of the Year award but his season was cut short due to blood clotting, and despite missing 36 games, he led the league with 176 blocks.
It appears like Young will never improve his defense, but in San Antonio, he would have Wembanyama to back him up and block any shot in the paint. In this transaction, the Spurs do not even have to give up Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, or potential Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
Should the Hawks trade Trae Young to rebuild?
This season, the Hawks missed the playoffs for the second time in a row. They were eliminated in the first round the previous two years, and Atlanta’s surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 appears to have been a fluke. The team has tried to build around Young by adding size and defense, but it hasn’t succeeded, and the team appears to be trapped in mediocrity.
As a result, dealing Young and committing to a complete rebuild makes a lot of sense. While Zaccharie Risacher was regarded as one of the worst number-one overall draft picks in history, he still has a lot of promise, and the four first-round picks acquired in this exchange suit the 20-year-old’s timetable.
Two of those picks will be made in 2025, with one returning Atlanta’s own pick, which was traded away in the Dejounte Murray transaction. By regaining their own pick, the Hawks would not only put an end to what was a disastrous choice in trading for Murray, but they would also have three picks in the top 15 this season.
That is a lot of ammunition to begin a reconstruction.
Keldon Johnson and Blake Wesley would also be interesting additions to the roster. Johnson’s stats were down significantly last season, but he averaged 22 points per game just two seasons ago. Johnson is still only 25 years old, so a return to form as a fringe All-Star talent is certainly feasible. Wesley may also break out after experiencing a change of scenery. Wesley was a first-round pick in 2022, so he has plenty of potential, but a loaded roster has kept him on the bench in San Antonio.
Trae Young is not an easy player to part with, but the Hawks do not appear to have a path to contention with him on the roster. Few, if any, teams can match the Spurs’ offer for his services.
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