The Atlanta Hawks are off to a 7-10 begin and whereas they’ve some younger expertise, it is not an surprising begin. They’ve simply gotten wholesome and are looking for their identification with this new workforce. Dyson Daniels has been a Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate to date this yr, however he is nonetheless looking for consistency on the offensive finish. No. 1 choose Zaccharie Risacher additionally flashed at instances, however like Daniels, he struggled to shoot the ball. Jalen Johnson continues to appear like top-of-the-line younger gamers within the league.
Then there’s Trae Younger, who hasn’t been his traditional self to start out the yr. He began the yr having to play lots of minutes, then missed a sport with an Achilles harm. He did not play with the identical sort of explosiveness we’re used to seeing from him and that damage the Hawks on the courtroom. Presently, Younger is averaging 22.1 PPG on 38% taking pictures from the sphere, however he’s additionally averaging 11.7 APG. Head coach Quin Snyder was requested about Younger after the Hawks’ loss to the Bulls final night time and had this to say:
Quin Snyder was requested about Trae Younger’s Achilles tightness, however that was some good factors about what Trae is doing nicely that others have to do to comply with go well with. pic.twitter.com/XrZWmigbfw
– Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) November 23, 2024
With the emergence of Daniels, Risacher and Johnson, the discuss of what the Hawks will do with Younger hasn’t stopped. Though the Hawks do not management any of their picks till 2028, that hasn’t stopped analysts and league pundits from questioning if the Hawks would commerce Younger and go in a distinct course with their gamers.
The Lakers have been rumored to be a potential vacation spot for Younger, regardless of their lack of fascinating property. A new industrial proposition from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley sends Younger to the Lakers, however little is returned in return:
“Whereas Atlanta would possibly nicely be making calls about Trae Younger — the Hawks are shifting their offense away from him — it is potential nobody will reply. As The Ringer’s Kirk Goldsberry shared on the Invoice Simmons Podcast, “he would not there isn’t any marketplace for [Young]”.
This sentiment has been shared earlier than, so the Hawks may need a a lot more durable time successful the three-time All-Star than some would possibly assume.
Commerce
Trae Younger and Cody Zeller to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round choose and a 2027 second-round choose
The Lakers, who’ve been linked to Younger prior to now, would possibly nonetheless really feel they want extra star energy and shot creation round LeBron James and Anthony Davis to compete for the crown. There would definitely be defensive questions with Younger’s arrival, however he may improve the workforce’s three-point quantity and ease the burden on James on the offensive finish. And if anybody may efficiently anchor a protection behind a Younger-Austin Reaves backcourt, it’d simply be Davis. Zeller, who hasn’t performed this season for private causes, would simply assist make the cash go additional.
The Hawks might not get a lot worth past 2029 right here, however he is nonetheless a coveted asset (particularly in trade for somebody who seems to have little to no curiosity). Plus, they might acquire a future second and may need a greater likelihood to develop Hood-Schifino, final yr’s seventeenth choose. Russell is on an expiring contract, whereas Hachimura and Vincent are on an expiring contract subsequent season, so Atlanta would not be tied long-term to any of the three until they needed to. »
Even when there is not a marketplace for Younger, it is a horrible commerce concept for the Hawks they usually should not contemplate it. First, the Hawks personal the Lakers’ first-round choose within the upcoming draft and don’t have any incentive to assist them on this commerce. Second, not one of the gamers they’re getting again would assist them in any respect and they don’t seem to be even near Younger’s caliber. D’Angelo Russell was benched, Vincent was a horrible signing for the Lakers and Hood-Schifino hasn’t proven something since being drafted by the Lakers. Hachimura is the most effective participant within the deal and whereas he is an efficient participant, he can’t be the centerpiece of a commerce involving top-of-the-line level guards within the NBA. A single first-round choose is not sufficient both.
Whereas nothing is unimaginable within the NBA, this deal is mindless for the Hawks and they need to not contemplate it. Younger is struggling proper now, however the Hawks could be a lot worse off with out him in the event that they made this commerce. The return is not sufficient and the Hawks nonetheless haven’t got their first-round choose till 2028. This may be a foul transfer for the franchise.
