‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Trae Young To Lakers, Austin Reaves And Rui Hachimura To Hawks

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Hawks:

The Los Angeles Lakers acquire Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks for Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers hold interest in trading for Young.

The Hawks are expected to consider trading Young this offseason.

“For the Lakers, this is a pure star play,” Hughes wrote. “LeBron James and Anthony Davis need two-way support pieces more than anything else, but Young has had multiple seasons in which he’s rated among the league’s most effective offensive forces. His potential impact on L.A.’s offense, and his ability to create easy looks for James and Davis, could pay off in a big way.”

One of the top scorers and passers in the NBA, Young averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 10.8 assists this season while shooting 43.0% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 85.5% from the free-throw line. He recorded 37 double-doubles in 54 games. 

Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in August 2021. He’ll make $43 million next season and $45 million in 2025-26.

Young, 25, holds career averages of 25.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.2 blocks. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. 

Young was with Klutch Sports Group, the agency LeBron and Davis are with. He recently joined CAA. 

The Hawks didn’t make the 2024 playoffs. Meanwhile, the Lakers lost in the first round to the Denver Nuggets in five games. 

Reaves averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season, while Hachimura averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. 

“Reaves would offer a flexible third-guard option in that rotation, while Hachimura and a healthy Vincent would be useful role players on a Hawks roster that will likely be without Saddiq Bey (injury, restricted free agency) and Wesley Matthews (unrestricted),” Hughes wrote.