The Atlanta Hawks started a process of rebuilding with a trade sending Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. The pieces they got back could be used to run back a Play-In roster with Trae Young at the helm, but many think it’s time for a fresh start in Atlanta. They can cash their chips in for Trae for a solid return, with his value already falling in recent years as the Hawks have regressed.
The Raptors seem to be caught in the middle of a rebuild, with a roster that could be solid enough to contend with a piece or two more. Scottie Barnes has been developing into a do-it-all wing, but the team’s offensive shortcomings will keep them from achieving. They can easily patch their offense by committing to a pursuit of Trae in Atlanta.
Trade Details
Toronto Raptors Receive: Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher, Gradey Dick, 2026 First-Round Pick (IND), 2028 First-Round Pick (TOR)
The Hawks get picks to continue their rebuilding process along with a high-potential youngster like Gradey Dick. Bruce Brown could be a strong trade asset on an expiring contract to further boost the trade return for the Hawks, creating the perfect situation for the team to bottom out as they rebuild their franchise.
The Raptors Return To Being Playoff Threats
The Raptors have been criticized for years as a team that refuses to tank when they should, with the 2022-23 season the biggest example. They were barely in the Play-In race and made a win-now trade to acquire Jakob Poeltl with an outgoing first-round pick, which conveyed this year at No. 8 to the Spurs instead of giving Toronto another young asset.
They don’t need to go through the pain of a youth rebuild if they just go after Trae Young right now to pair him up with Barnes. Young averaged 25.7 points and 10.8 assists last season, proving to be a one-man offense. He would be a phenomenal fit under Darko Rajakovic’s system, as Young can be the primary facilitator and scoring option for the team instead of living and dying by team ball movement sets to win games. It adds much-needed creativity to their offense.
There would be questions to answer, mainly what happens with Immanuel Quickley, but the team can figure that out. Quickley as a sixth man has proven to be effective and would be great behind a Young-RJ Barrett backcourt. Or else, the team can max out their offensive versatility by playing Young and Quickley together with Barrett and Barnes in the frontcourt.
The Hawks Take A Step Towards The Future
The Atlanta Hawks have been trying to make it work with Trae Young for six seasons. All they have to show for these years together are multiple first-round exits and one Conference Finals appearance that amounted to nothing. The core of the Conference Finals squad has stagnated and started ebbing away, with the team not resembling that same squad from 2021.
It’s time to blow it up, and the Hawks get some solid pieces to do so with Young currently not rated very highly by front offices around the league. Dealing him to the Raptors for two unprotected picks and three players might seem unconventional but would be a decent return. Gradey Dick promises to have a lot of potential as a scorer, averaging 8.5 points in his rookie season.
Bruce Brown would be a great glue guy for a young roster or the perfect movable asset that could further enhance the Hawks’ trade return. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season. The same applies to Chris Boucher, who averaged 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds last season and is a versatile backup center on an expiring contract. The Hawks open up salary space for their developing young core while setting up routes to acquire more assets.
A Trade To Shake The Eastern Conference Up
Both the Hawks and Raptors seem to be afterthoughts in the East right now ahead of the glamorous big teams such as the Celtics, 76ers, Knicks, and Bucks, with even the Pacers, Cavaliers, and Magic expected to be more impactful than either franchise. The Raptors could move themselves into the second group of teams and be a genuine top-six contender in their first year of the Young-Barnes duo.
Having a dynamic guard with a versatile wing often results in great results, with Barnes primarily struggling to level up his offensive game. He’s a tenacious defender and would be considered one of the best in the NBA if his talents were featured on a winning team. I truly believe just one addition like Trae can unlock Scottie’s game enough for him to leap into All-NBA status.
The Hawks will have to find a new franchise face after losing Young, with multiple options coming into the NBA with the 2025 NBA Draft. A trade return is what you make of it, so the Hawks will be hoping to turn some average assets into ones that can help bring the franchise into the future after a three-year spell of regression.
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