3. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are heading into year 2 of the Trae Young-Dejounte Murray backcourt experiment but if things don’t fare better than they did this past season, there’s a chance that they could look to make a big move next summer. The big question is whether that will be on the Hawks’ terms of one of their stars. There’s at least a slight scenario in which Young emerges disgruntled after this season. Especially after the trade whispers that took place earlier this year when it came to Young’s future with the team.
Young took the high road but that’s something Young will remember. If Young feels as if the Hawks aren’t completely committed to him long-term, he could try to get in front of everything and demand a trade next summer. After this season, Young has two guaranteed years left on his contract after he can test free agency.
Young may be the player the Hawks are currently building around but in the NBA, that can quickly change. At the very least, the situation that is taking place in Atlanta is certainly something to keep an eye on. If things continue to go south for an underperforming team, it could be time for a big change.