- Trae Young has been linked to the Lakers for some time now
- The Atlanta Hawks guard was under the team’s scanner this offseason
- Young himself addressed the rumors later on
The Los Angeles Lakers‘ interest in Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young hasn’t waned.
In his latest for The Athletic, NBA insider Jovan Buha shared his two cents on the team’s point guard chase this summer, highlighting Young as well.
“The Lakers have pursued other star guards, including Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry, and Kyrie Irving. Even into this summer, there were some in the organization, including James, who still had an interest in pursuing Irving, though the front office ultimately prioritized continuity. Trae Young has long been on Los Angeles’ radar, depending on how his situation unfolds in Atlanta.”
While they have pretty much rounded up their roster with D’Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent likely splitting PG duties, there’s no doubt that the Lakers will look at avenues where they can land Young, or even Irving if that situation arises.
Buha’s thoughts come amid Austin Reaves’ rich run in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and his performances for the Lakers this past season. While he surely has the tools in his armory to be the floor manager, Young comes in as a better fit primarily due to his experience.
The Lakers Had Expressed Interest In Trae Young
A few months ago, it was Buha who had shared news of the team’s piqued interest in Trae Young.
“For what it’s worth, Kyrie Irving and Trae Young, two All-Star-level point guards, were both sitting courtside in Los Angeles for the second time this postseason. Young, like James and Davis, is a Klutch client.”
“The Lakers have had internal discussions about what a hypothetical trade offer for Young could look like this summer, according to multiple league sources not authorized to speak publicly.”
News of Young to the Lakers did the rounds after Russell had a forgettable postseason for the team after an impressive regular season. On the other hand, Young’s stocks suffered a bit after he led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
While he averaged 26.2 points during the regular season, the guard didn’t make the All-Star or All-NBA Teams. His shooting percentages were quite average, she shot just 42.9% from the field and 33.5% from three-point range. There was chatter that saw him chosen by some of his peers as the most overrated player in the league.
On that note, we proposed a blockbuster trade that answers fans’ questions of what a potential trade would look like. Here’s a quick look:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyrie Irving (Sign and Trade)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks Receive: D’Angelo Russell (Sign and Trade), Josh Green, 2026 First-Round Pick From Dallas, 2029 First-Round Pick From Los Angeles
There’s no doubt that this will be a win-win for all three parties. But that’s wishful thinking now.
Trae Young Had Shed Light On The Lakers Rumors Earlier
It appears that Young was paying attention to what was being written about him and the Lakers as a potential landing spot in the near future. Speaking on his ‘From the Point’ podcast, he shared his two cents on the rumor:
“A lot of people made a lot of things out of me being at games. I’ve been to a lot of games throughout my years. I’ve always been a fan of the game… most of the time I’ve got a friend playing that I’m there watching, like [Michael Porter, Jr.] for Denver.”
At the time of writing, it sure appears that Young will suit up for the Hawks for this upcoming season. They made the playoffs this past edition only to be ousted by the Boston Celtics in the first round.
Now, he has a chance to prove his detractors wrong, and only time will tell if Young will indeed become a Laker.
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