NBA Rumors: Hawks, Trae Young, Kings, Bulls, Nikola Vucevic

The Hawks have yet to hire a head of basketball operations after firing Landry Fields after the season. Young, 26, is suddenly one of the older members of a roster that also features the likes of Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Onyeka Okongwu. With the exception of Young, all of those players are 24 or younger.

“I’ve been led to believe that whoever is hired (as the new decision-maker) will do so with the understanding that Young is to be kept, barring a very obvious upgrade in a trade,” one opposing lead scout told Hoops Wire. “They like having him as the face of the franchise.”

The scout went on to credit Young for “having a strong relationship” with coach Quin Snyder and “reshaping his game for the good of everyone, including himself.”

• Atlanta is believed to be closing in on hiring Fields’ replacement, sources said. The Hawks own two first-round picks (Nos. 13 and 22) and would like someone in place before next month’s NBA draft.
• As for Young, the scout added: “They still believe he can take them places with the right group around him.”
• ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote that this is indeed a big offseason when it comes to Young’s future in Atlanta. “If an extension is not reached, Young could become a free agent next summer but only if he declines the $49 million player option in 2026-27,” Marks wrote.

Kings

New Kings head of basketball operations Scott Perry is said to be still evaluating whether the trio of Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will continue to form the core of the roster next season.

“Clarity is needed on whether the Kings, as currently constructed, can be more than a .500 roster,” Marks wrote. “LaVine is owed $96 million and is extension-eligible this summer. Sabonis, who led the NBA this season with 58 double-doubles and 13.9 rebounds per game, has $140 million remaining on his contract.”

Sacramento will have other roster decisions to make as well, Marks added.

“One under-the-radar priority for the Kings is deciding what to do with Keon Ellis,” he wrote. “The Kings can decline the $2.3 million team option, thus making Ellis a restricted free agent this summer. They could also exercise the option and extend his contract in February. If there is no extension, Ellis would become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. Ellis averaged a career high in points (8.2), steals (1.5) and field goal rate (49%).”

Bulls

• The Bulls are expected to aggressively explore trades involving center Nikola Vucevic this summer, sources said. After allowing more points in the paint than anyone this season, Chicago is widely expected to try to land a rim-protector as part of a return package.
• For the record, Vucevic is on an expiring contract. He is eligible to sign an extension as soon as the NBA Finals conclude.
• Otherwise, the Bulls are mostly satisfied with the core of the team and are confident they can reach a deal with restricted free agent Josh Giddey. The aforementioned scout said he believes Chicago is “probably closer than people think” and that the right return in a trade “could make them a player again.”