After several seasons, it seems like the Atlanta Hawks are going nowhere with Trae Young as their franchise player. The All-Star guard’s career has a chance to put his career back in motion if the Los Angeles Lakers trade for him in this year’s free agency.
Once his one-year stint in Oklahoma playing college basketball was done, the Dallas Mavericks selected him using the fifth overall pick in the 2018 Draft, a class that produced Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Brunson.
With six seasons under his belt, Young has established himself as Atlanta’s franchise player. Throughout that period, the three-time All-Star point guard averaged 25.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game. He also connected 43 percent from the field, 35 percent from beyond the arc, and 87 percent from the free throw line.
Even with all his talent, Young’s tenure with the Hawks may have hit its ceiling. Due to a funky fit with All-Star guard Dejounte Murray and the lack of reliable role players around him, Ice Trae’s true potential in the NBA hasn’t fully materialized. As a result, Atlanta’s front office may have to choose between him and Murray in the coming months.
Trae Young Lands With the Los Angeles Lakers in Stunning Trade Proposal
In the event Young is the odd man out in Atlanta, a couple of teams will pursue him in free agency. In an article written by Chris Herring for ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers may hold the best situation for the Hawks point guard.
“If Los Angeles loses James and replaces him with George, who’s settled into handling the ball less, the Lakers would be wise to find someone who takes no issue with handling it more.
Young, as someone who shared ballhandling responsibility with Dejounte Murray the past two seasons in Atlanta, fits that bill. His efficiency can wane; particularly from deep, but he’s also a playmaker whose penetration would create easy looks for Davis, who would immediately become the best big Young has ever played with.
You can already imagine how confused defenders will be in trying to decipher Young-Davis pick-and-rolls, and ascertaining whether Young is shooting floaters — he ranked in the league’s 98th percentile, per Second Spectrum, in terms of how often he attempted them — or throwing lobs for Davis,” Herring wrote.
While having Young is certainly great for L.A., he won’t come cheap since the Hawks star isn’t a free agent. It would take several role players or a promising young guard in Austin Reaves if the Lakers want to acquire him.
It remains to be seen how Los Angeles will pull off any trade involving Young or if they’re going to pursue him in the offseason. What’s certain, though, is a lot of eyes will be on him in the coming months to see where he ends up.
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