There have been several rumors over the past few months that Atlanta will look to trade either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray this offseason. On his From the Point podcast (YouTube link), Young suggested he would be open to a change of scenery if the Hawks aren’t doing their best to win in 2024/25.
“Everybody knows like obviously I want to be in Atlanta,” Young said, per Sonny Giuliano of ClutchPoints. “When I was drafted, that’s where I wanted to spend my whole career, but at the same time I want to win. So if we’re not on the same page and all, I want to win right now.
“I mean there’s times teams want to take their time and be slow with the winning process and it’s just like, I’m not there anymore. Like I want to win, and I’ve always been that way. I don’t feel like I have very much time to waste, and so I just want to continue to play at a high level and I feel like I can do that and play at a high level and win.”
Here’s more from the Southeast Division:
- In a press release, the Hawks officially announced that they have hired Onsi Saleh to be their new assistant GM. A former executive with the Spurs and Warriors, Saleh’s hiring was first reported a couple weeks ago. “Onsi has played significant roles with two of the most well-respected organizations in the NBA,” Hawks GM Landry Fields said. “In addition to his experience and expertise, we are thrilled to add someone with our shared values to our leadership team.”
- The Magic are facing a 3-2 deficit in their first-round series with the Cavaliers, but they’re confident they can win two straight games to advance, writes Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. “I’m riding with this team no matter who it is in front of us,” center Wendell Carter Jr. said. “I believe that we can beat any team in this league. I’m riding with my guys. I feel like we can win two in a row. It won’t be easy but we can do it.” Shooting guard Gary Harris (right hamstring strain) will be a game-time decision for Friday’s Game 6, tweets Kendra Andrews of ESPN.
- Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network relays some exit interview comments from Wizards president Michael Winger and GM Will Dawkins. In addition to making “environmental” changes at Washington’s practice facility and arena, Winger said the team will likely make “incremental moves” this offseason as opposed to last year’s blockbuster trades of Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis.
So much ink spilled over Murray and Trae (and pretty much the same story over and over…) I’m more interested in Okongwu. Don’t hear about him enough
Except no actually ink has been used, making the phrase meaningless. Also, if Okongwu was worth talking about, we’d be talking about him…
you must be fun at parties
You think Atlanta doesn’t have newspapers? Bet you think dinosaurs are fake too.
Trae Young to Orlando, it would be interesting to see what is the price that ATL asking for Trae and how much Orlando is willing to pay. Orlando have the money and assets to make the trade.
Maybe because there is no drama in offseason planning around him.
His contract is set. He is very unlikely to be moved as the Hawks will likely not be needing to ADD to any deals salary wise to make them work (that will likely done by the acquiring side if it’s Murray or Trae). His contributions may or may not increase based on other deals, That’s about it.
Why not look to move him?
I am certain they could, but why? He is an absolutely valuable piece to have, and I think they would much rather dump Capela’s contract.
I would not recommend moving pieces that are good value for the money unless you are looking for that final piece, and I don’t think the Hawks are that team.
After stating the above, I do see some reason to move him now while his value might be at a higher point. Definite possibility there, but I don’t think that type of move would be one that gains a ton of press ahead of time, hence the lack of coverage.
Who would take Trae? I don’t see a team.
Nobody, he is massively overpayed for a 1 dimensional role player who can’t play defense.
Role player may be pushing it a little!
Personally, I don’t like his game, and I don’t believe it’s conducive to winning. That said, there are teams that will want him. Lakers, Bulls, and Nets would all be likely to make a pitch for him.
Keep in mind that multiple teams have given up assets for Harden, Westbrook, Kyrie at his low point, and other stars that we have all believed were not winners or overrated. If the Hawks want to find a new home for him and get back some assets, they’ll find one.
Trae has value as a pick and role PG. Pair with with a legit PF/C and let the entire offense run through that and he would be fine. He even made an average player like John Collins look good for a season by getting him 3-4 free dunks per game. Put him with someone a little more talented and it would drive opponents fits … at least on one end of the court.
The problem comes when other players want the rock. They might think they are better options, but realistically that tends to not be the case more often than not.
Personally, I don’t like the old Utah offense, but it is the best fit for Trae. Either that or a Pitino UK/Phoenix Suns of old run, run, run team.
a team that only wants to lessen their championship aspirations. Wasn’t it the hawks who thought they won that young/doncic trade? How’s that working out for them?
How has it worked out for dallas? What have they won lol.
Any team that wants a player that can score from all three levels and is an elite playmaker for himself and others.
I don’t get the hate for Young and the love for a similar player like Haliburton. They’re both great on offense yet horrible on defense. Trae’s 6’1″ 164 whereas Tyrese is 6’5″ 185. At least Trae tries on the defensive end, he stays in front of his man and keeps his hands up. He’s just too small. What’s Tyrese’s excuse?
it doesn’t translate into wins. does trae young make his teammates better?
He’s had about the same amount of team success as Doncìc, the guy he’s always compared to. A few first round exits and a fluke trip to the their respective conference finals.
In the weak Eastern conference… So it doesn’t count…
Outside of the top 3 the rest of the East wouldn’t be in the play in if they were Western teams…
And it’s been this way for decades with a rare blip season here or there…
The Sixers team they beat in the semis was first in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and they went to 6 games with the eventual NBA champs.
his effective FG % and adjusted eFG+ are below league average. so if you want an inefficient volume scorer that’s a sieve on D then yes he’s your guy.
Or you can have a ball dominant Diva who cries not only when the whistle is blown against him but even when the whistle is swallowed and no call is made.
The man’s like a Orchestra conductor out there he has his hands in the air so often.
Granted, a Fantastic player good guy in the community but not ready to hand him all time great trophies just yet. Better than Trey young, sure, and by a lot, but the elevating of his stature and all this MVP garbage is a little too much based on flash and points per game.
Chuck toad comparing trae to hali is the worst comp i’ve ever seen. Congrats.
It must suck to be a Hawks fan…
Not only do you get to jealously watch the Mavs, but you see teams like the Magic leapfrog over you with better stars…
The only team that will trade for Trae is a desperate team…
Detroit ain’t trading Cade for him, but they’ll have one of the better offers for him… Lakers might see him an upgrade over Dlo for LeBron… Bucks might get desperate to offload Lillard if this Achilles injury is detrimental to his game…
But that’s the best trades possible unless a GM really wants to get fired…
I like what was written above, Orlando desperately needs guards. Could they trade one big man for a guard to help balance it all out? Perhaps.
Not sure why the Hawks need more help in the front office. Maybe someone already there doesn’t agree with the direction the team is planning (knowing the Hawks they believe Trae is still the answer).
To me, it’s obvious:
1) Trade Trae for whatever you can get to wipe his contract off the books and build around everyone else. Salaries will be matched, so be prepared to move off some money in other deals. I am not saying Trae isn’t a really dynamic player, but as others have stated, he is not worth the money, at least not with any ensemble the Hawks can likely put together for next year.
2) Do NOT resign Bey. Yes, he put up slightly better numbers with Atlanta, but he wasn’t all that the media was trying to make him out to be. He will get more money than he is worth from someone .. don’t bite. There are similar players that can be had for cheaper each and every offseason (like Bey himself this year)
3) Try to move Capela’s expiring contract. If you do #1 & 2 you don’t have to, but it could still help bring in more functional pieces. Capela should be a role player at this point. His board-work is still solid, but his defense is not good. Everyone blames Trae and Murray, but teams always use Capela’s man for the screen game because his defense was almost as bad.
4) Bring back Johnson. He plays with heart, gives effort, and moves without the ball. On top of that, he has talent.
5) Keep Murray. You would just take a loss in trading him, so why do it when he is very contract friendly for another year, at which point some other big dollars come off the books. The team functioned as good or better with him alone, so this should be a reason to try to let him run things. It also allows you to give Bufkin another year or two to develop physically and mentally.
5) Everything after this is depending on what happens above, but all of the above can be done.
Wizards like overpaid one dimensional guards. Just a thought.