Hawks Nearing Trade Decision on Trae Young: Report

After shockingly missing the playoffs this year despite finishing with the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed (they lost twice in the play-in tournament), the Atlanta Hawks face a summer full of questions.

Thanks to surgeries to Boston Celtics All-Star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, plus the midseason trade of All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, the Eastern Conference finds itself in something of a talent drain.

In theory, this could open the door for intriguing mid-tier teams like the Hawks or Orlando Magic to take a gigantic leap next season. Orlando, no doubt recognizing this, pounced, offloading four draft picks and a swap — plus the contracts of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony — to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for standout swingman Desmond Bane.

Armed with rising star forward Jalen Johnson, ascendant All-Defensive Team guard Dyson Daniels, 2024 No. 1 draft pick Zaccharie Risacher, and the Nos. 13 and 22 picks in the first round of this year's 2025 NBA Draft, Atlanta appears to face a big choice this offseason: whether or not to trade four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young.

The 6-foot-1 Oklahoma product is still just 26, and posted impressive averages of 24.2 points on .411/.340/.875 shooting splits, 11.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds across 76 healthy regular season contests in 2024-25, while offering zero resistance defensively.