ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday that Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young and his agents, Aaron Mintz, Drew Morrison, and Austin Brown, are working with the team on a trade.
Kings, Nets, Rockets, Blazers Not Ideal
Young’s camp and Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh have already “begun positive and collaborative talks” over the past week on finding a resolution, sources told Charania.
Per Charania, the team and Young’s agents “have maintained positive dialogue on his future ever since the franchise elected not to offer a contract extension last summer ahead of his 2026 player option,” but will now try to part ways.
Four teams, however, are not viewed as potential landing spots for the eight-year veteran, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Those clubs are the Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers.
“I tweeted about the Kings last night; they don’t have interest,” Amick said while on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. “It was reported that Brooklyn and Houston don’t have interest. You know, Portland’s name gets thrown about. I don’t see that.”
According to Spotrac, Young has $95 million total remaining on his five-year, $215.15 million rookie max extension, with this season and next season. His deal includes a $48.96 million player option for 2026-27.
Wizards Emerge As Suitor For Trae Young
Meanwhile, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday that the Washington Wizards have emerged as a “legitimate potential trade destination” for Young.
Stein said a deal for Young would be “centered around CJ McCollum’s expiring contract.”
These latest reports indicate that Washington is the “only substantive spot” for Young, per Amick.
Another team that doesn’t seem to be pursuing Young is the Dallas Mavericks.
Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime said Dec. 27 that the Hawks “remain very intrigued” by the prospect of acquiring Mavericks star center Anthony Davis and “possess a pretty attractive asset package.”
However, Haynes added in his report then that if a deal was “able to materialize” between the Hawks and Mavericks, “it would not involve Trae Young.”
Young Has Been Struggling With Injuries
Young has dealt with leg injuries this season that have limited him to only 10 games.
In those 10 outings, Young is averaging only 19.3 points per game, his fewest since his rookie season (19.1 PPG), on 41.5% shooting from the floor and a career-worst 30.5% from 3-point range.
The Hawks are 15-12 in the 27 games he has missed entering Monday, and the team is 2-8 with him while holding opponents to nearly 10 points less per game, per ESPN Stats & Information.
Young dealt with a right MCL sprain early in the season and is currently sidelined because of a right quad contusion that has caused him to sit out the past six games.
