Getty Image
The Atlanta Hawks had big goals for the 2022-23 NBA season after trading for All-Star guard Dejounte Murray in the offseason.
The reality, however, ended up far different from those expectations.
Atlanta barely snuck into the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 41-41 record. The Hawks will take on Miami in the opening round of play-in tournament on Tuesday night.
Should they win, they’ll face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. But if they lose, they’ll risk crashing out of the playoff altogether before even reaching the first-round proper.
Young’s scoring average is down two points per game from a year ago and his 3-point shooting fell off a cliff, dropping from 38.2 percent from deep to 33.5 percent.
The Hawks also fired head coach Nate McMillan mid-season before hiring for Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder.
Hawks Have ‘Green Light’ To Trade Trae Young In Offseason
Now matter how it gets there, it’s clear that changes have to be made in Atlanta. And according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, those changes could start with Young.
“With the offseason approaching, league sources say the Hawks’ front office has the green light from ownership to do whatever it wants to with the roster, which includes considering trade opportunities involving All-Star point guard Trae Young,” O’Connor reports.
Usually, it takes a marquee player asking out for them to get traded. But O’Connor saying this time it could be the other way around.
“Regardless of Trae’s desire to stay, it could be the Hawks that decide to change course following a likely early exit from the play-in or the postseason,” he writes.
If Young hits the market, he’ll no doubt have his fair share of suitors. But six years into his career, it’s hard to tell what exactly the two-time NBA All-Star is and how exactly he factors into the team as whole.