Explosive Trae Young Trade Scenarios: Shocking Hawks At Crossroads

Life With And Without Trae

The strangest part of Atlanta’s season is how different the team looks depending on whether Trae is on the floor. Without him, the Hawks have played a more balanced, connected style. The defense tightens up, the ball moves, and younger players like Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu get to stretch their games as bigger options in the offense.​

When Young returns, the numbers and the eye test both dip. The defense collapses to near league‑worst levels, and the offense doesn’t rise enough to make up for it. Young is still a gifted scorer and playmaker, but as a smaller guard in a league full of big, switchable defenders, his flaws get exposed. The result: a team that gives up more than it gets back when he’s on the court.

The Contract Cloud Hanging Over Atlanta

All of this is happening with Young’s contract hanging over everything. He holds a player option close to the $49 million range for next season, and that number is a real sticking point for any front office trying to plan long term. If he opts in, Atlanta is locked into a massive cap hit for a player they’re no longer sure they want as their top option. If he opts out, the Hawks risk losing him for nothing or being forced into a tricky sign‑and‑trade.​

Meanwhile, the Hawks still have other big deals and expiring money they can use in trades, including the Porzingis contract, plus younger pieces who are starting to look like the real future. The question becomes simple: is this still Trae’s team, or has the timeline quietly shifted to Johnson, Okongwu, Alexander‑Walker and the rest of the youth movement?

Trae Young Trade Scenarios: Trade Ideas That Actually Make Sense

Because of the contract and the defensive issues, Young’s trade value isn’t as high as you’d expect for a player with his offensive numbers. He needs the ball, he needs spacing, and he needs a strong defensive shell around him. That narrows the list of realistic landing spots.​ These swaps focus on teams needing offense while giving Atlanta pieces for its youth movement.​

Sacramento Kings Swap

Atlanta sends Trae Young to Sacramento for Domantas Sabonis.

Kings’ Side: They take a low‑risk flyer on Trae as their top scorer and playmaker. With guards like Malik Monk, Dennis Schröder, and Russell Westbrook not pushing them forward, Young becomes the best player on a small‑market squad that struggles to land stars in free agency. They could rebuild around him after dumping bigger contracts like Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan later. It’s like the Raptors turning Brandon Ingram into a key piece—Trae could spark a similar turnaround.

Hawks’ Side: Sabonis fills the offensive big role they wanted from the Porzingis deal, pairing okay with Onyeka Okongwu for rim protection. Atlanta keeps its $30M Porzingis expiring to chase a backup guard like Coby White, using draft picks from San Antonio, Pelicans, and Bucks to sweeten deals. It’s not perfect, but it clears cap space and adds front‑court depth.

Phoenix Suns Deal

Hawks get Jalen Green and Royce O’Neale for Young.

Suns’ Side: Phoenix adds Trae without much loss. They’ve beaten top teams like OKC despite injuries to Green, Devin Booker, and others, showing grit on defense. Trae slots in as facilitator, letting Booker score off‑ball while lobbing to Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro. Losing O’Neale hurts a bit, but Green’s hamstring woes make this a net gain for offense. The risk is too many guards and Trae’s big contract year.

Hawks’ Side: Jalen Green (just 23) grows next to Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander‑Walker, and Jalen Johnson as a driver. O’Neale brings 3‑and‑D wing play off the bench, letting Atlanta flip Luke Kennard for more help. This lands two rotation pieces now with upside for the future.

Dallas Mavericks Exchange

A straight swap: Anthony Davis for Trae Young.

Mavericks’ Side: Dallas grabs a younger, cheaper point guard to create offense. With Kyrie Irving sidelined and young handlers like Brandon Williams not cutting it, Trae fills the gap—especially ironic since the Hawks traded him away from Dallas at the draft for Luka. Pair him with Cooper Flagg long‑term to stay relevant without draft picks. As a Texas native, he’d fit right in.

Hawks’ Side: Davis upgrades the injured Porzingis spot as a defensive anchor who shoots threes and pairs with Okongwu. Atlanta uses its $41M in expiring deals (Porzingis, Luke Kennard, maybe Okongwu) to add backcourt help. It’s a weird fit but boosts the front court while shedding Young’s salary.

Other East Teams in Play

Less detailed but worth watching:

• Toronto Raptors: Needs offense; Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Trae could dominate East, but multi‑team mess needed.​​
• Washington Wizards: Trade for CJ McCollum and Bub Carrington to get younger; Trae becomes their star to chase wins.
• Milwaukee Bucks: All‑in with Giannis via a three‑team deal for playmaking punch.
• Miami Heat: Tyler Herro for Trae to pair with Bam—better off‑ball fit for Atlanta.

What The Hawks Should Do

From a basketball and team‑building angle, it feels like Atlanta has already outgrown the version of itself that revolved around Trae Young. The numbers without him, the rise of the younger core, and the size of his next contract all point in the same direction: it’s time to move on while there’s still real value to be had.​

That doesn’t mean giving him away just to be done with it. The Hawks should be targeting a mix of:

• A high‑level starter or two who actually fits the new identity
• Extra draft picks to restock the cupboard
• Shorter or cleaner money to reopen flexibility after next season

Handled right, a Young trade could shift the Hawks from “stuck in the middle” to “young, fun, and on the rise” in one move. And for fans tired of watching the same flaws drag this team down year after year, that kind of bold reset might be exactly what Atlanta needs.