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'Push' Made for Surprise California Team to Trade for Hawks' Trae Young

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 2:32 PM ET

Could the Atlanta Hawks be seriously looking to ditch four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young this summer?

Granted, Young is an undersized lead guard and a defensive sieve. His Hawks have struggled around the fringes of the play-in tournament picture ever since their surprise run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals as a No. 5 seed.

But Atlanta appears to be cementing a fun fringe contender around Young and rising power forward Jalen Johnson in a wide-open Eastern Conference playoff picture, with All-Stars Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard all potentially out for the entire 2025-26 season as they recover from Achilles tears suffered in the playoffs.

The Hawks flipped their No. 13 pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the rights to Georgia power forward/center Asa Newell and, stunningly, New Orleans' unprotected 2026 first round selection. Given the Pelicans' recent lack of on-court success, that pick could be quite good for what promises to be a loaded lottery class.

Atlanta also traded away shooting guard Terance Mann, forward Georges Niang, their No. 22 pick, and their rights to the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2031 second round selection for Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis as part of a three-team deal with the Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.

It appears the Hawks are laying the groundwork for the future with that Pelicans pick, while also bringing in a key win-now piece in Porzingis.

One team that is absolutely desperate for a high-caliber starting point guard, however, could be in the market for Young's services. If the price is right, would Atlanta bite?

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, some Sacramento Kings decision makers have advocated for a Young deal.

What I'm hearing on the Kings as the draft ends, and free agency nears, at @TheAthletic https://t.co/FRQbIaNhF3
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 26, 2025

Amick writes that "there was a push among some power-brokers for Sacramento to go after Atlanta’s Trae Young, but league sources say the Kings didn’t have interest because of his style of play (offense-first) and cost (he’s extension-eligible this summer but is slated to earn $45.9 million next season and has a player option worth $48.9 million in 2026-27)."

Bringing in Young would only exacerbate the Kings' biggest problem: the club's best, most ball-dominant players are all offense-only pieces. Former All-Stars Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan all struggle on the other side of the floor, as does guard Malik Monk.

Sacramento would likely offload at least one of these players (LaVine's money aligns nicely and Sacramento is already fielding trade offers for him, but Sabonis likely has the most trade value as a versatile modern center) in a Young deal, but even still, bringing in Young doesn't cure what ails the Kings.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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