The Atlanta Hawks chose not to trade Dejounte Murray at the trade deadline. The defensive-minded guard will now remain with the franchise moving forward. Yet, the Hawks’ decision to retain Murray has now led to some discussion surrounding the future of All-Star guard Trae Young.
According to Marc Stein, who was writing in his SteinLine newsletter, the Hawks are expected to consider Young’s long-term future with the franchise.
There’s no denying that Young is one of the most gifted offensive players in the NBA. However, his defensive limitations make him a difficult player to build around. Instead, Young would be better suited to joining a team where he could be the second star. The Hawks have tried and failed to produce a contending team with Young as their cornerstone.
Atlanta may be better suited to parting ways with its star for some future assets or players that would fit next to Murray. Right now, it’s not seen as a contending-level team. Selling high could be what’s best for Atlanta. Young currently has three years left on his contract, with the final year being a player option. As he gets closer to the end of that deal, his value will drop, and the risk of him leaving for nothing will increase.
The Hawks have given it their best shot with Young as their star player. It’s not working. This summer might be the ideal time to make a change. It won’t be easy to part with their best player, but if they want to be a contending tea in the future, it might be a necessity.
