The 3 Reasons Why Atlanta Hawks Should Trade Trae Young NOW

Atlanta Hawks' point guard Trae Young has been surrounded by trade rumors for several years. However, no deal has materialized, and the player has remained with the franchise that selected him in the 2018 draft.

But at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, the noise is louder than ever, and there are compelling reasons for it. Below, three reasons why the Hawks should consider trading Trae Young as soon as possible are analyzed.

1. A team that performs better without him on the court

Young played the first four games of the season before suffering a knee injury on October 29. In those games, Atlanta had a 1-3 record and was outscored by an average of nearly 9 points per night.

Since his absence, the situation has completely changed. The Hawks have achieved a 8-2 record in their last ten games (including the match where Young got injured after just six minutes), and currently have a five-game winning streak.

The offense has been functioning well, but the most significant improvement has come on defense. In an eight-game span without Young, the team allowed only 107.7 points per game, a figure that would have been the second-best in the entire NBA if maintained during the first full month of competition. Although they allowed 122 points in each of their last two games, they managed to win both.

2. Evident ceiling since 2018

It is increasingly clear that the Hawks have reached their limit with Trae Young as their main reference. Since entering the league in 2018, Atlanta has only made the playoffs three times. One of those occasions led to a notable run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but the other two ended in first-round exits.

Young has been the team's central figure throughout this period. The offense consistently ranks among the top six in the league in scoring, but the defense perennially lags at the bottom of the standings. This contrast mirrors Young's profile essence, and the Hawks need to enhance their defense. The logical first step would be to part ways with what is likely their biggest defensive liability.

3. Still high trade value

Although his scoring and efficiency slightly dipped last season, Young posted impressive numbers in the 2024-25 season. His assists average, which has steadily increased over the years, surged to 11.6 per game, the best in the NBA, combined with his 24.2 points per game.

These figures remain appealing to many franchises, providing the Hawks with reasons to negotiate a trade for significant returns. If they aim to maximize his value, they should act promptly. If Young returns from injury and both his output and the team's collective performance start to decline, his market value could decrease.

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