Trae Young is the undisputed top player on the Atlanta Hawks roster. Well, that was until November. An MCL sprain forced the veteran star to miss a month and a half of action. Yet, instead of falling into a deep slump, the team remained in the playoff hunt with a 15-14 record due to the emergence of their young talent. Especially, 2021 first-round pick Jalen Johnson.
The forward has taken another big step forward and is showing the organization they have a new player who can carry the team. That is likely why trade rumors have swirled around the star guard. The fact that he can opt out of his contract for next season only intensifies the possibility that he could be moved.
If the Hawks got bold and traded the talented guard, here are five teams that could make a run at him before February’s NBA trade deadline, including the Houston Rockets.
Chicago Bulls
Things can go either way for the Chicago Bulls this season. Could they make the play-in tourney? Yes. Could they just as easily miss the postseason entirely? Also, yes. However, if they were to make a trade for Young, it would put them in a far better position to reach the playoffs next spring. The combo of the four-time All-Star and Josh Giddey could be fun to watch in the second half.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are always linked to any star player that becomes available in the trade market. After playing well in November, they have slumped big time over the last couple of weeks and need to do something if they want to try and make a real run in the second half in a weaker version of the Eastern Conference. The key here is whether Miami would be allowed to use Terry Rozier’s contract in the trade.
Houston Rockets
Ever since Fred VanVleet went down with a season-ending injury, there have been rumblings that the Houston Rockets would eventually make a trade for an impact playmaker in the backcourt. The Rockets have the chips to make a trade work financially, and Trae Young would relish the chance to return home to Texas to play for a title contender in the second half and next season.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets have the trade chips and cap space to make any blockbuster trade. However, their rebuild is still not going well. Even if Young opts out after the season, a trade could present the opportunity to get certain contracts off the books. Like Nic Claxton’s. But if he did opt in, seeing what the combo of Young and Michael Porter could be is another reason why the trade is worth it.
Minnesota Timberwolves
There have been rumors linking the Minnesota Timberwolves to trades for impact point guards, including Ja Morant and Darius Garland. Why not pursue Trae Young? If Atlanta is willing to take Rudy Gobert back in a deal, it would give Minnesota the chance to go with a front court of Naz Reid and Julius Randle, and a nasty backcourt of Young and Anthony Edwards.
