ATLANTA — As the NBA trade deadline looms just 30 days away on February 5, the Atlanta Hawks are actively exploring a potential blockbuster deal involving their star point guard, Trae Young. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Hawks and Young's representatives are collaborating to facilitate a trade for the four-time All-Star, which would conclude Young's seven-plus-year tenure with the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in 2018 following a draft-night swap that sent Luka Dončić to the Dallas Mavericks.
Young, now 27, has been a cornerstone for the Hawks, leading them to Game 6 of the 2021 Eastern Conference finals and a surprising run to the 2024 NBA Cup semifinals. He has topped the league in total assists on three occasions and holds Atlanta's all-time records for assists and three-pointers made. However, the team's recent struggles have cast a shadow over his future in the city. The Hawks have posted a 2-8 record in the 10 games Young has played this season, hampered by his acknowledged defensive limitations.
Atlanta's overall defensive rating stands at 115.5 points per 100 possessions, ranking 17th in the NBA. But with Young on the court, that figure deteriorates to 126.2 — nearly five points worse than the league's worst defense, that of the Utah Jazz. These shortcomings have fueled speculation about a departure, a possibility that has simmered for the past 12 to 18 months. The front office opted not to extend Young's contract over the summer and instead committed to defensive specialist Dyson Daniels with a four-year, $100 million extension.
The emergence of forward Jalen Johnson during Young's injury absence provided the Hawks with a glimpse of life without their lead guard, highlighting a shift in priorities under new general manager Onsi Saleh. Saleh, installed this summer, bolstered the roster by acquiring 3-and-D guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and stretch big Kristaps Porziņģis from the Boston Celtics. Additionally, Atlanta secured a valuable 2026 unprotected first-round pick from either the New Orleans Pelicans or Milwaukee Bucks in a June draft-night transaction with New Orleans.
Expectations were high for the revamped Hawks, projected as a top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Yet, the team's early-season woes have prompted a reevaluation. "There were plenty of signs that a Young trade could be coming in the next 12 to 18 months," ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported, pointing to the contract decisions and roster experimentation as key indicators.
Finding a suitable trade partner for Young presents significant challenges. The NBA is oversaturated with point guards and centers, making it difficult for teams to absorb such a player without losing value in return. Young's contract adds another layer of complexity: he is due $46 million this season and holds a $49 million player option for 2026-27. Salary cap apron restrictions further complicate matters for potential suitors looking to match his salary.
Among the few teams that could accommodate Young's deal are the Washington Wizards, who possess expiring contracts for veterans like Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum. The Wizards also lack a long-term point guard solution, and their vice president of player personnel, Travis Schlenk, notably drafted Young back in 2018. Bontemps noted that "not many potential suitors fit both criteria," underscoring the limited market.
ESPN insiders have outlined four hypothetical trade proposals to illustrate possible paths forward for Atlanta. In one scenario involving the Wizards, the Hawks could receive CJ McCollum, Malaki Branham, AJ Johnson, and a 2026 first-round pick from the worst of the Clippers, Rockets, and Thunder, along with a 2031 second-round pick via the better of the Hawks and Rockets. This framework, described by analyst Kevin Pelton, would likely require a 3-for-1 swap given the salary disparity — Young's $46 million against McCollum's $30.7 million in the final year of his deal.
Pelton explained the appeal for Atlanta: "Taking Young's salary off the Hawks' books would give them massive flexibility for 2026-27 and beyond, while McCollum would fill the team's most important need the rest of this season — playmaking when neither Young nor Jalen Johnson is on the court." For Washington, it represents a "low-cost bet on a talented player who should be in his prime." Branham and Johnson, who have combined for just 246 minutes this season on the Wizards' fringes, would provide minor depth, with only Johnson under contract beyond this year at $3.2 million for 2026-27.
An alternative proposal shifts focus to the Sacramento Kings, where Atlanta might acquire Malik Monk, Dario Šarić, Devin Carter, Malaki Branham, AJ Johnson, and the same 2026 first-round pick, plus a top-55 protected 2026 second-rounder from the Hornets. Monk, 27 and a recent Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, has become expendable amid Sacramento's backcourt congestion and impending rebuild. "The Kings would surely be thrilled to get out of the remaining two years and $42 million left on his contract," Pelton observed.
This deal would offer Atlanta a longer-term bench guard option, with Monk and Johnson still providing cap flexibility for future moves, such as a potential pursuit of Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo. Even after absorbing these contracts, the Hawks could utilize exceptions in the offseason.
A third option involves the Milwaukee Bucks, desperate to build around Antetokounmpo rather than trade him. In this trade, Atlanta would get Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Gary Harris, and Milwaukee's 2031 first-round pick. Analyst Zach Kram highlighted the fit: "The Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard pairing didn't work out for Milwaukee, but maybe a different small, offense-oriented lead guard will mesh better with the two-time MVP."
While this wouldn't immediately aid Atlanta's present roster beyond frontcourt depth, the 2031 pick could prove invaluable, as Antetokounmpo will be 36 by then. Kuzma and Portis's contracts extend further, but the draft asset compensates for the short-term trade-off.
Under-the-radar interest could come from the Portland Trail Blazers, who are grappling with a playmaking void. With Damian Lillard sidelined for the season, Jrue Holiday out since mid-November, Shaedon Sharpe facing growing pains, and Scoot Henderson sidelined by a hamstring injury, Portland's offense ranks 24th league-wide. Entering Monday, Deni Avdija was the Blazers' only player with at least 100 assists.
Young could instantly elevate Portland's attack, supported by their perimeter and interior defenders — though Atlanta's experience suggests defensive cover might not fully mitigate his weaknesses. In return, the Hawks could land Jerami Grant, who has averaged 20 points on 60% true shooting in a bounce-back year but has been out since mid-December with Achilles tendinitis. Grant's contract, at $34.2 million for 2026-27 with a $36.4 million player option in 2027-28, extends longer than Young's, posing a minor complication.
When evaluating trades, Atlanta should prioritize adding draft capital, either immediately or in future years, according to ESPN's Alex Marks. The Wizards proposal excels here, combining McCollum's playmaking — he has started 89% of his games since 2013-14 — with assets like Oklahoma City's 2026 first-rounder. Marks questioned whether Atlanta might need to sweeten the deal with its own first-round pick to offload Young's salary, but even then, it outshines the alternatives.
For the Wizards, acquiring Young aligns with leveraging cap space into contention, aiming for a play-in spot while protecting their first-rounder — which conveys to the New York Knicks if outside the top eight. As trade discussions intensify, Young's next destination remains uncertain, but his departure could reshape the Hawks' trajectory toward a more balanced roster. The league watches closely, as this could spark the first major domino of the deadline season.