Atlanta Hawks News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Image credit: ClutchPoints

How Trae Young leaving Klutch Sports sends warning signs he’s done with Hawks

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | Last updated 5/13/24

The Atlanta Hawks gaining the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft may signal a potential rebuild for the lagging squad, three years removed from an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Podcast hosts Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo further fueled speculation on The Bill Simmons Podcast that the move by Trae Young to change agents — from Klutch Sports to CAA — may be a sign of him exiting the Hawks, on top of an alleged rift with teammate Dejounte Murray, who is still represented by Klutch.

“It’s really starting to come out in public that those guys [Young and Murray] didn’t like playing with each other so [the Hawks] got to pick one,” Simmons said.

“People don’t like playing with Trae, I don’t know how many years I’ve got to keep saying this,” Russillo continued. “Maybe finally people that have argued with me about this for years, who have apparently zero information…Basically, let me put it this way, I’m not going to be a d*** when the day comes, but understand I’ll be smiling in solidarity.”

Speculation from Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo negates Trae Young, Dejounte Murray public statements

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) and guard Dejounte Murray (5) Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The comments by Simmons and Russillo come despite public statements by Dejounte Murray and Trae Young on the “From the Point” podcast supporting each other and calling the trade rumors “BS.” However, Murray made an interesting post on X/Twitter, after the Hawks secured the No. 1 overall pick.

When Simmons opened the possibility of a Miami move for Young, Russillo replied, “Well I think that’s a good guess that Miami just goes, ‘Hey, we know how to do things, we’re better,’ the whole Miami spiel to him.”

However, the interesting wrinkle behind a possible pairing of either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray with Jimmy Butler in South Beach is that both Hawks guards have their separate issues with the Heat star guard.

Young averaged 25.7 points on 43.0% shooting from the field with 10.8 assists and 1.3 steals across 36.0 minutes in 54 games this season, his career-low in games played since joining the Hawks in 2018. Murray played 78 games this season, averaging 22.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest on 35.7 minutes on the floor.

Winning NBA Draft lottery complicates Hawks’ salary cap situation

The Hawks securing the number one overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft only complicated the team’s situation in handling their salary cap, as they have to make a decision over the future of their young core, as well as the decision whether to renew the expiring contract of big man Clint Capela.

This offseason is key for the Hawks to decide the franchise’s future direction and give head coach Quin Snyder the right tools to build a contender in the Eastern Conference.

After an unheralded run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, the Hawks slipped to three consecutive appearances in the Play-In tournament. This resulted in back-to-back first-round exits in 2022 and 2023, while they failed to secure a spot in the playoffs this season.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: