Shams Charania: Hawks star Trae Young reached out to Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this evening to help recruit them to the franchise, sources said. Two big wing gets for the Hawks.
Source: Twitter @ShamsCharania
Source: Twitter @ShamsCharania
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Hawks star Trae Young was very vocal and active in recruiting Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Atlanta, sources tell me. He was heavily involved in the process to lure one of the top wing free agents on the market. – 8:13 PM
Hawks star Trae Young was very vocal and active in recruiting Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Atlanta, sources tell me. He was heavily involved in the process to lure one of the top wing free agents on the market. – 8:13 PM
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
New Orleans Pelicans will decline the $3.15 million team option on Elfrid Payton, sources told @hoopshype. Payton led the NBA in assists per minute this season (.33) per @statmuse ahead of Trae Young (.32) and Nikola Jokic (.28). Payton is expected to have interest in free agency pic.x.com/qMKM8kihRW – 3:09 PM
New Orleans Pelicans will decline the $3.15 million team option on Elfrid Payton, sources told @hoopshype. Payton led the NBA in assists per minute this season (.33) per @statmuse ahead of Trae Young (.32) and Nikola Jokic (.28). Payton is expected to have interest in free agency pic.x.com/qMKM8kihRW – 3:09 PM
More on this storyline
Similarly, 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). -via New York Times / June 27, 2025
What’s your sense as far as the Sacramento Kings’ aggression or lack thereof going into the summer?” Sam Amick: “Yeah, I mean, I do have indications that they are looking at a lot. I don’t know how much they’re going to overhaul the roster, but I think they’re looking at big stuff. I think they’re looking at small stuff.” “You know, the point guard pursuit is very real. I don’t know where they’ll land on that front. It’s kind of a, ‘If only Jrue Holiday was five years younger’ type thing. That kind of option has been considered and explored, but it’s imperfect because of his age.” “And then if you go younger, there are a lot of Trae Young rumors. My understanding is there’s not interest there—unless it came attached to a bunch of first-round picks. So, I don’t know what the outcome will be on the point guard side.” -via YouTube / June 18, 2025