Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young could be the next big-named player to get traded.
According to a report from Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, multiple NBA executives believe that Young could seek a trade “if the team doesn’t make inroads come postseason time.” Young has the option for an early contract termination in 2025-26.
That’s not all. A separate report from Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com indicates that Young’s relationship with head coach Nate McMillan is souring. And on top of that, multiple Hawks players are apparently getting tired of Young:
“Multiple sources are indicating to Heavy Sports that the relationship between Trae Young and coach Nate McMillan has deteriorated further since a dispute/misunderstanding/spat led to the star guard choosing to not attend a December 2nd game against Denver.”
One league executive told Bulpett that the situation is “very toxic” and that “it looks like it’s getting worse.” A coach from another team said to Bulpett, “He doesn’t like the coach, the coach doesn’t like him, and other players have issues with Trae also.”
Young was drafted fifth overall by the Dallas Mavericks back in 2018, but he was later traded to the Hawks in a blockbuster deal that brought Luka Dončić (the No. 3 overall pick by Atlanta) to the Mavs.
Young is a two-time All-Star who has turned the Hawks back into a consistent playoff contender following a short-term rebuild. Young helped the Hawks make an unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, where they fell to the eventual NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks.
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The Hawks are struggling with consistency through the first two months of 2022-23, as they sit 16-16 heading into Friday’s action. Young is having another strong season, averaging 27.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game.
