The Best Trade Destinations For Trae Young

Trae Young was supposed to be the franchise star for the future of the Atlanta Hawks, but growing tension in the Hawks locker room with Young means that the disgruntled star might be on his way out of Atlanta through the trade market. 

Young is reportedly not only on the outs with Coach Nate McMillan but also with the rest of the Hawks’ locker room. Usually, coaches get fired after disagreements with franchise stars, but the backing Coach McMillan has received from the Hawks roster might be able to safeguard his job and allow the Hawks to reset the draft capital lost in the Dejounte Murray trade by moving Young. 

While the actual chances of Young being dealt this season are slim, what would be some compelling destinations for the No. 5 pick from the 2018 Draft?

4. Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards Receive: Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Kristaps Porzingis, Deni Avdija, 2024 First-Round Pick (WAS), 2026 First-Round Pick (WAS), 2028 First-Round Pick (WAS)

The Washington Wizards need to do something about the cycle of middling rosters they’ve been stuck in ever since John Wall got injured. Wall moved on 2 years ago, and they also moved on from Russell Westbrook, so what’s the problem here? They have built a nice squad, but it doesn’t have enough weapons to catapult them forward, as evidenced by the lack of success they’ve had.

Moving Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks can allow Atlanta to move on from players like Clint Capela and John Collins or give them an open slate, given how Porzingis’ contract extension talks go. Avdija is a valuable young defensive wing that could give the Hawks a new identity going forward, with Dejounte Murray becoming the lead guard and setting the tone with his defense. 

With Kevin O’Connor saying Young might have low trade value due to him being undersized, streaky, and a negative defender means 3 unprotected first-round picks along with young talent and a big contract might be something that satisfies Atlanta while giving Washington a leaky but dynamite scoring backcourt of Young and Bradley Beal.

3. Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets Receive: Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks Receive: LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, 2024 First-Round Pick (CHA)

This trade might be harder to pull off, given the value LaMelo Ball has generated through his first 2 seasons in the NBA. He’s a former All-Star but has had injury concerns and can have stretches of inconsistency. The Hornets have been trying to rebuild for years, but maybe a more finished prospect like Young can help them accelerate their growth.

The Hawks are guaranteed to have a high pick in 2023 and would need to just give up Gordon Hayward alongside LaMelo and one pick to get a bona fide All-Star back on the squad. The incentive to trade LaMelo would be extremely low, but Young is the kind of player that could transform the Hornets and help them get a step closer. Trading other players like Terry Rozier could help the Hornets build a team specific to Trae’s play style, given the sparse roster and the lack of assets they give up if LaMelo is included.

The Hawks get to build around a new young backcourt of LaMelo and Dejounte, which might be more sustainable for the franchise. Taking the Gordon Hayward contract will be an albatross, but getting a pick and another young All-Star in LaMelo might ease their minds.  

2. Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors Receive: Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Scottie Barnes, Fred VanVleet, 2025 First-Round Pick (TOR)

So, we know that trading Scottie Barnes is not realistic, given how the Raptors refused to move him for even Kevin Durant. But in a trade for Trae, the Raptors will have to part with either O.G. Anunoby or Scottie Barnes. While the Raptors are higher on Barnes, O.G. Anunoby is emerging as one of the most valuable players in the NBA, with his trade value shooting up as he has emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate this season.

If the Raptors keep O.G., they send Scottie to Atlanta, and he can become the prized future frontcourt star on the team. They’ll also get Fred VanVleet in the trade to keep their guard depth alive. The Raptors get a bonafide point guard that can not only score at an elite level but also provide open shots for the litany of 3-and-D players on the roster.

A Pascal Siakam-Trae Young pick duo could be one of the most lethal offenses in the NBA. They keep their defensive strength outside of Barnes to cover off for Trae and don’t even have to pay a heavy pick price, given they’re giving up the reigning Rookie of the Year.  

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, 2024 First-Round Pick (LAC), 2025 First-Round Pick (PHI) 

This might be the perfect chance for the OKC Thunder to start pushing toward contention again. They will not use all their picks on actually drafting players, so why not start moving some picks to make yourselves good right now? If the Thunder give up high-potential youngster Josh Giddey along with a defensive stalwart in Lu Dort, the Thunder can acquire a difference-maker next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who can actually bring winning basketball back to the franchise. 

The Thunder have so many picks that they don’t even need to give up their own. A 2024 Clippers pick and a 2025 Philadelphia pick might be safe bets, given the long-term outlook of both franchises looking shaky right now. They can afford to throw in more picks from other teams like Houston if they want to, such is the dearth of picks available to them. 

Maintaining control over all their future picks while also getting Trae would transform the Thunder. They have all the assets needed to build the ideal roster around a Shai-Trae backcourt. This might be the moment for the Thunder to jump into the deep end and shake the league up. 

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