The tenure of Trae Young with the Atlanta Hawks is expected to come to a close either via trade ahead of the February 5th deadline, or in the offseason. The two sides are collaborating together on potential trade scenarios as it has become evident Young is no longer in Atlanta’s long-term plans.
“Trae Young’s Hawks’ tenure is coming to an end,” said Shams Charania on Tuesday’s episode of NBA Today. “He appears to be in his final days and weeks in Atlanta after seven-plus seasons together as the face of that franchise.
“And I’m told Trae Young and the Hawks know he just doesn’t fit the current team anymore. We’ve seen the Hawks move on and turn the page toward this young core of Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu.
“So both sides are now collaborating on trade talks out of Atlanta, turning the page and seeing where else Trae Young can land to be the lead guard of a franchise elsewhere. And this really started in the offseason when the Hawks decided not to offer a contract extension to Trae Young and now Trae Young seeking a team that could give him an extension.
“And also something from the fact that the Hawks have played better this season without Young in the lineup. So here between now and the trade deadline, the Hawks either move Trae Young. They can wait for his contract to get to an expiring deal in the offseason when he has a player option or he opts out and that gives them $40 million in cap space in the offseason. But Trae Young appears to be nearing the end of his career in Atlanta.”