We’re in an era where most NBA superstars get frequently brought up in trade rumors, and Atlanta Hawks’ point guard Trae Young is no different.
Young has been mentioned aplenty in trade talks throughout the past year or so, even though it hasn’t even been two years since he signed a massive five-year contract extension worth up to $207 million.
The 24-year-old Young just led his Hawks to an upset win over the Miami Heat in the first Eastern Conference play-in game to clinch the No. 7 seed. Young’s Hawks will now meet the Boston Celtics in the opening round.
Unless the Hawks go on a deep playoff run, trade talks surrounding Young will continue to ramp up this summer. And there certainly won’t be a shortage of teams interested in the dynamic two-time All-Star.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey proposed two blockbuster trade ideas that would see the Hawks send Young to the Los Angeles Clippers. The first proposal would have the Hawks receiving Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, a swap of 2028 first-rounders plus a 2029 first-rounder.
Bailey’s other proposal? A one-for-one swap in which the Hawks trade Young for perennial All-Star Paul George:
“For the Hawks, this deal is more forward-looking than some of the others here.
Bones Hyland is only 22 years old, and the draft consideration obviously helps down the road. Terance Mann would make the defense better. And Eric Gordon is mostly in the deal as an expiring contract to help the salaries match.
Of course, if Atlanta was insistent on taking a step forward with a Young trade, it might insist on a straight-up swap of Young and George.
The wing is eight years older, but he’d immediately improve the Hawks defense and open up some shots for Murray, Collins and the rest of the team.
For L.A., a one-two punch of Young and Leonard is pretty enticing. And even without George, the Clippers might be able to surround Young with enough defense to survive on that end.”
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The Clippers have been in win-now mode since they landed both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the summer of 2019. Leonard was signed in free agency, and George was added in a blockbuster trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Adding a player like Young would go a long way in maximizing the Clippers’ championship window. But even if they decide to pursue a Young trade in the offseason, the Clippers won’t be the only ones interested. There will be intense competition to land him.
