Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young added to trade rumors recently when he sent a cryptic post on social media. Young has been subjected to these rumors since before Atlanta’s disappointing 2023-24 season came to an end in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
It was just a couple years ago that Young was seen as one of the better young players in the league. Since then, his reputation has taken somewhat of a hit.
Even then, we’re talking about a 25-year-old guard who is averaging 25.5 points and 9.5 assists throughout his six-year career. There is going to be interest in his services. Here, we look at five ideal scenarios involving Young this summer.
Related: Updated NBA trade rumors
Utah Jazz use picks to acquire Trae Young
Utah has 15 first-round picks through the end of the decade. It’s time for front office head Danny Ainge to use some of these assets for a franchise cornerstone after a 51-loss season. Teaming Young up with frontcourt stars in Lauri Markkanen and alker Kessler would go a long way into building an actual playoff team in Salt Lake.
Trae Young to Utah Jazz trade scenario
- Utah Jazz get: Trae Young
- Atlanta Hawks get: Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, Taylor Hendricks, first-round pick
In return for Young, Atlanta acquires two players in Clarkson and Sexton who can be flipped for draft assets. It also picks up 2023 first-round pick Taylor Hendricks and a future first-round selection.
Minnesota Timberwolves pair Trae Young with Anthony Edwards
Can you imagine Trae Young and Anthony Edwards teaming up in Minnesota’s backcourt with four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in the low-post? That’s the basketball version of adult television. The ‘Wolves won 56 games and earned a spot in the Western Conference Finals. But with Karl-Anthony Towns as a realistic option, this is not a championship team.
Trae Young to Minnesota Timberwolves trade scenario
- Minnesota Timberwolves get: Trae Young
- Atlanta Hawks get: Karl-Anthony Towns
It’s a one-for-one trade. Perhaps, Atlanta gets the better end of the deal. But this seems pretty fair in the grand scheme of things, especially considering Minnesota’s lack of draft assets. The Hawks could either keep KAT or flip him for other assets as the team potentially looks to rebuild.
Orlando Magic add star in Trae Young
Power forward Paolo Banchero is a true rising star for a Magic team that won a surprise 47 games last season. Franz Wagner is also a great complementary piece in the frontcourt. Unfortunately, Orlando lacks backcourt talent to be seen as a serious title contender. Young would certainly provide that, creating an inside-out duo with Banchero.
Trae Young to Orlando Magic trade scenario
- Orlando Magic get: Trae Young
- Atlanta Hawks get: Cole Anthony, Anthony Black, first-round pick
Orlando yields two recent first-round picks in Anthony and Black to Atlanta in order to acquire Young. Add in another first-round pick, and this is the right move for the Hawks. After all, they’d be getting out of the remainder of Young’s bloated five-year, $215 million contract.
Related: 4 Orlando Magic moves to make team NBA title contender
Brooklyn Nets use Ben Simmons to acquire Trae Young
The Brooklyn Nets are not going to trade Mikal Bridges. Let’s get that out of the way right now. Instead, they’re going to find a running partner for the star forward. Speaking of star power, it’s needed to compete with the New York Knicks in the Big Apple. Young would be an absolutely great fit with Bridges and Cam Johnson in Brooklyn.
Trae Young to Brooklyn Nets trade scenario
- Brooklyn Nets get: Trae Young
- Atlanta Hawks get: Ben Simmons, Noah Clowney, first-round pick
Very little in return for Trae Young. That has to be your first response. The reasoning is simple. Simmons is on an expiring contract at $40 million for the 2024-25 season. That means the Hawks would be saving a cool $98-plus million long-term by making this deal.
Read more: Updated NBA power rankings heading into the offseason
Los Angeles Lakers go big with Trae Young
Fresh off hiring JJ Redick to be their next head coach, the Lakers goal must be to find a running partner for LeBron James (assuming he returns) and Anthony Davis. Los Angeles lacked any type of consistency behind the big two during a 2023-24 season that ended in a first-round playoff exit. Young’s age of 25 also makes him a possible franchise cornerstone in the post-LeBron years.
Trae Young to Los Angeles Lakers trade scenario
- Los Angeles Lakers get: Trae Young
- Atlanta Hawks get: D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, two 1st-round picks
Much like the other deals on this list, Atlanta gets off Young’s bloated contract for expirings. It also adds two future first-round picks from Los Angeles. Those could become extremely valuable once LeBron James decides to retire. Each one would be lightly protected.
