The Atlanta Hawks may be one of the most active teams in the NBA in the weeks leading up to the February 5 trade deadline.
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Atlanta started this season with a 9-5 record, even as All-Star guard Trae Young missed time due to a sprained knee ligament. Young players like Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson continued to take steps forward, while the splashy offseason acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis generated optimism that the Hawks were building a contender in the open Eastern Conference.
But in recent weeks, the Hawks have regressed. Amid rumors linking Atlanta to another blockbuster trade, this time for Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, it seems clear that more changes are coming, and they could result in a parting of ways with Young, the franchise’s all-time star.
FURTHER: Hawks make strange trade decision between Trae Young and Anthony Davis
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said Monday on The Hoop Collective podcast that the Hawks are trying to trade Young before he enters a contract year in 2026-27. Momentum has stalled on a contract extension in Atlanta for Young, last year’s league assists champion; MacMahon is convinced this is no coincidence.
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“They made no attempt to get me to sign an extension,” MacMahon said. “When that’s the case with your face of the franchise, it’s a pretty clear message that the end could be near.”
The renewed focus on Young’s future in Atlanta comes amid the Hawks’ recent slide in the Eastern Conference standings.
Since Young’s return from his injury, the Hawks are 0-6 and have allowed at least 125 points in each of those games. Atlanta, now 15-18, is in 10th place in the East, and the tough Milwaukee Bucks are just 1.5 games behind them.
However, Young’s defensive limitations and recent injury concerns will limit his trade market. MacMahon compared it to the situations facing LaMelo Ball in Charlotte and Ja Morant in Memphis: players who similarly might be ready for a move but face reduced interest in their services.
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“There won’t be a wide variety of teams putting their hands up and trying to bid, and I’m not sure if you’ll even be able to make a trade that brings value in return,” MacMahon said.
That being said, Atlanta seems very motivated to move on from Young and enter a new era. Only time will tell how this challenge is resolved.