NBA Trade Rumors: If the Atlanta Hawks still want to move on from Trae Young, it could prove to be difficult in a dried-up trade market.
Heading into this offseason, the overwhelming belief was that the Atlanta Hawks would explore trading both Dejounte Murray and Trade Young. After successfully moving Murray in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans to open the offseason, all eyes are now on Young and his potential exit from Atlanta. While it's far from a foregone conclusion, if the Hawks are serious about embracing a new era for the franchise, it probably makes the most sense to trade Young before the start of the season.
But that could be easier said than done. In what has quickly become a dried-up trade market, the demand for Young may not be as profound as perhaps the Hawks want it to be.
A dried-up trade market for Trae Young
With the New Orleans Pelicans already trading for Dejounte Murray, the San Antonio Spurs signing Chris Paul, the Orlando Magic inking Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Brooklyn Nets pivoting toward a rebuild, and the Philadelphia 76ers signing Paul George, there could be limited demand for Young on the open market. And it could make it increasingly more difficult for the Hawks to trade Young.
That said, if the Hawks still wanted to trade him before the start of next season, there could still be a few potential landing spots. In a dried-up trade market, we explore three landing spots that make the most sense for Young.
Utah Jazz
A recent report indicates that the Utah Jazz explored potential trade scenarios with the Atlanta Hawks for Trae Young. Whether or not that's something that could still be on the table remains to be seen but the addition of Young could be an interesting potential scenario for the Jazz. For a team that is looking to upgrade their roster around Lauri Markkanen, I can't help but wonder if Young could be the exact offensive playmaker that Utah could use. Whether or not they believe he's a worthy enough target to pursue is the true question.
On paper, a Young-Markkanen duo could be interesting enough for the Jazz to consider. If the Hawks get desperate enough that they'd be open to taking an offer just for the sake of moving on, you can't count out Danny Ainge and the Jazz. Young would get a fresh new start and would be playing with arguably the best No. 2 he's ever been paired with.
For as good as Dejounte Murray was, he simply didn't fit next to Young. In Utah, Markkanen is already proven to be an All-Star-worthy player and would fit nicely next to Young as a frontcourt leader.
Miami Heat
Through the early portion of the NBA offseason, the Miami Heat have been pretty inactive. Most of that is due to the fact that the team simply doesn't have much flexibility. From all indications, the Heat is likely going to run back their roster as-is. However, if there was any shot for this team to shake up their roster, a move for Trae Young likely gives them their best chance to do so. Now that Donovan Mitchell has elected to sign long-term with the Cleveland Cavaliers, there may not be any more pivots for the Heat to make.
However, it could prove to be difficult for the Heat to find the right trade package that the Atlanta Hawks would be open to considering Miami's lack of draft capital. But because of how much Young's trade value has suffered recently, it's also not something that is completely off the table.
As we get deeper and deeper into the offseason, the Heat potentially trading for Young is something to keep an eye out for. If Miami does find itself in a desperate position, it could be a path they may feel is worth exploring.
Los Angeles Lakers
Even though it would still be somewhat of a surprise if the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Trae Young, I do believe it's still on the table. Especially now that the free-agent and trade markets have begun to dry up. With Dejounte Murray, Donovan Mitchell, and Klay Thompson off the board for the Lakers, I can't help but wonder if they could circle back to interest in Young at some point this offseason. If the Lakers are still desperate to acquire talent to give LeBron James and Anthony Davis the best chance to compete for a title this season, Young wouldn't be a terrible pivot.
If the Lakers could get a deal done without having to include Austin Reaves, this is the type of move that would make even more sense. If Los Angeles was to re-engage the Hawks on a potential Young deal, I'd have to imagine it's something that would come together later on in the offseason.
The second phase of free agency likely has to conclude before this becomes a possibility but if Young is still on the market and the Lakers miss out on a couple of other difference-makers, perhaps it's a pairing that could make sense,