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Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young has several teams that he would be interested in if a trade occurs.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and the San Antonio Spurs are three destinations that would be “appealing” to Young if he’s dealt by the Hawks this offseason.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on April 9 that Atlanta would “likely” trade either Young or Dejounte Murray in the summer.
Young’s future in Atlanta has been murky, as the Hawks have failed to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs in each season after making the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. This included a 2023-24 campaign that ended with a 36-46 record, as the team was eliminated by the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament.
The 25-year-old still maintained his impressive individual production, averaging 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game on 43.0/37.3/85.5 shooting splits. However, the Hawks may pivot towards a younger roster centered around the incoming No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
New Orleans could be interested in pairing Young with Zion Williamson, forming one of the NBA’s most imposing pick-and-roll duos. The Pelicans have been active on the trade market, with Stein reporting that the team would “aggressively” shop Brandon Ingram throughout the offseason.
Although the concept of Young alongside Victor Wembanyama is also intriguing, the interest may not be mutual. According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, the Spurs don’t view Young as a long-term “fit” next to the standout rookie.
While the Lakers may attempt to pursue Young, they’ll need to figure out LeBron James’ future first. James currently hasn’t made a decision on a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season (via Spotrac).
Even though Young hasn’t requested a trade from Atlanta, he already appears to have his eyes on several potential new teams.
