Hawks' path out of annual mediocrity includes moving off Trae Young

The Atlanta Hawks have found themselves in the same position as the last three seasons: fighting for a playoff spot in the play-in. 

Despite landing No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, shipping out Dejounte Murray and De'Andre Hunter in massive trades and breakout seasons from Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu, very little has changed in their trajectory. Since a promising run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, they have been relegated to mediocrity.

The issue is that there seems to be very little hope of breaking free. Risacher, Daniels and Okongwu look to be promising building blocks, but none look like potential game-breaking stars. Jalen Johnson’s projected leap this year was hampered by injuries that limited him to 36 games. Clint Capela isn’t who he used to be.

At the center of it all is the face of this era of Hawks basketball, Trae Young. The four-time All-Star once again put up impressive numbers, averaging 24.2 points per game and a league-leading 11.6 assists per game. However, at just 41.1%, his shooting percentage was the lowest it has been since his rookie season. He also had the most turnovers of his entire career at 4.7 per game. 

As has become common, Young’s gaudy numbers have also not contributed to much winning.

While some of the blame for this stretch of middling results can be attributed to the front office’s inability to build around him, it’s also become clear that Young does not help his teammates raise their play. That 2021 run continues to look like a flash in the pan rather than an achievable goal with Young as the centerpiece.

So, with the writing on the wall, where does Atlanta’s front office turn? It could try to make a big splash in the trade market or free agency, such as bringing in Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant if they become available, and ask Young to play second fiddle. 

However, with examples such as Antetokounmpo’s Bucks and Durant’s Suns, that model seems to be going out of style as the way to win. Most of the contenders this year, headlined by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics, have gotten most of their best players through draft and development.

Following this line of logic, the best option for the Hawks is to move off Trae Young now. There are promising young pieces on the team already in Risacher, Daniels and Okongwu. Johnson still has the potential to be a high-level scorer. Moving Young allows Atlanta to develop these players without feeling pressured by his presence to try to contend. 

Tanking for the 2026 draft, with AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer headlining a promising crop of talent, could provide them the dominant presence they lack from Young and give them a better chance at contending with teams such as the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, who seem poised as long-term threats.

It begins with admitting the failure to build with Young, a realization that could be made easier if they lose Tuesday in the play-in.