The Atlanta Hawks and point guard Trae Young are working to find a trade destination for the four-time All-Star, according to multiple media reports.
The Hawks and Young have remained in contact about his future with the organization since Atlanta elected not to offer him a contract extension last offseason when he became eligible, according to ESPN.
ESPN also reported those talks have escalated over the last week. Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported Monday that the Washington Wizards had emerged as a “legitimate potential trade destination” for Young.
Young, 27, has spent his entire career in Atlanta since the Hawks acquired him in a draft-and-trade deal with Dallas in the 2018 NBA Draft as the fifth overall pick. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (4,837) and 3-pointers made (1,295).
His career average of 9.8 assists per game is the third highest in NBA history behind only Magic Johnson and John Stockton.
Young, a third-team All-NBA player for the 2021-22 season, led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2020-21 campaign. Atlanta failed to make it out of the first round the next two seasons and also couldn’t escape the play-in tournament the last two campaigns.
Young has missed 28 of Atlanta’s 38 games this season, and he’s currently sidelined by a quad contusion. Young is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game — both the lowest since his rookie season — in his limited action this campaign.
The Hawks are 2-8 with Young this season and 15-13 in his absence after Monday’s 118-100 loss at Toronto.
Jalen Johnson’s emergence (career highs of 24 points, 10.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists this season) in his fifth campaign has filled the scoring void with Young sidelined.
Over eight seasons and 493 games (all starts), Young has averaged 25.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and one steal per contest.
