The Atlanta Hawks were supposed to become a perennial playoff team with Trae Young taking charge. However, they find themselves in an odd position where they’re not strong enough to become a perennial playoff contender but also be too good to acquire talented players through the draft.
Due to the lack of tangible results, questions have been asked on Young’s future with the team. The future has been so uncertain in the ATL that trade rumors have surfaced over the guard’s possible trade destinations if the Hawks feel like it’s time for them to move on from him.
Whether the trade rumors are justified, it’s good to consider how the Oklahoma product has fared this season. Having a better understanding of how he’s performed this season will give fans a better idea on whether the Hawks will decide to keep him or not.
Analyst assesses Trae Young’s 2023-24 season with the Atlanta Hawks
Depending on how fans look at Trae Young’s development, the past season may have seen him regress a bit or take significant leaps in areas that don’t show up on the stat sheet.
Young averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.2 blocks on 43% shooting, 37% from three-point land, and 86% from the charity stripe.
While his scoring hasn’t been as efficient as 2021-22, his playmaking has taken leaps and bounds. As he’s getting more used to NBA offenses, fans can expect the 6’1″ guard to use his gravity to find the open man.
Moreover, Joe Schmidt of Peachtree Hoops wrote about the major leap Ice Trae made defensively:
By the end of November, the strides on the defensive end were already evident. We saw more defensive activity than ever from the offensive-minded point guard, and he finished the season with a career high of 1.3 steals per game. By the end of November, he had already made multiple clutch plays in late-game situations.
Young developed into an outstanding player who can shoot, pass, and defend if pushed. While the Atlanta Hawks are still to build a winning roster, keeping Young for two or three more years is a good decision.
If the Hawks do decide to blow the team up and start over next season, they can get considerable assets in return for him. Plenty of contenders will want a player like that on their team and will willingly give them players and picks to acquire his services.
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