Will Trae Young's antics lead to a divorce with Hawks?
A sense of tension has been building between Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks for quite some time. As the franchise continues to be surrounded by controversy and uncertainty, a divorce appears inevitable.
After Game 2 of Atlanta's playoff series against Miami last season, Young chartered a private flight home instead of flying back with the team, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Young failed to inform the team of his decision and was subsequently fined.
The dramatics are becoming the norm in Atlanta, and Young continues to show signs of disconnection and frustration.
Earlier this season, HC Nate McMillan gave Young, who was nursing a sore shoulder, an ultimatum ahead of the team's next game: either come off the bench or don't show up.
Young chose the latter.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the conflict between the two has factored into McMillan's consideration of resigning. Based on how Atlanta's season is unfolding and the outlook for the coming years, it wouldn't be a shock to see McMillan step away after the season.
Having acquired All-Star guard Dejounte Murray in the offseason, the Hawks hoped to become contenders this season. The early results indicate they're nothing more than a middle-of-the-road team in a stacked Eastern Conference, which may remain the case for some time.
Atlanta's tough start (22-22) has already led to restructuring in its front office, and changes to the roster are imminent ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline. Are Young's antics and the potential return he can garner in a trade enough for Atlanta to consider trading him?
According to Chris Vivlamore, the sports editor of The AJC, Atlanta has floated the idea around internally, but nothing is imminent. With the complexity of a deal of that magnitude, it's unlikely that Young will get dealt at the deadline, but it could be an offseason discussion.
Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell generated unbelievable returns in their respective offseason trades; Atlanta could receive a similar return for Young. He's still an immensely talented player despite the baggage he brings (27.4 ppg, 9.8 apg).
There's no telling how drastic GM Landry Fields' deadline moves will be, but if they don't lead to wins, Young could request a trade. Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reported last month that rival executives believe Young could ask out of Atlanta if the team doesn't improve.
This current Hawks core doesn't seem like they'll be a title contender anytime soon, which might make the trade deadline the right opportunity to evaluate Young's market.
Trading the face of the franchise is never an easy decision, but it's a better alternative than wasting years trying to make the relationship work.
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