The Atlanta Hawks are expected to trade star point guard Trae Young before the Feb. 5 deadline, and multiple league insiders continue to link the team to Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis.
Hawks Want To Trade Trae Young
Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported Sunday that it’s “hard to imagine” the Hawks finding a way to keep Young on the roster if they pursue a trade for Davis.
Amid injuries and a disappointing 15-19 record, Stein added that “there is a growing belief leaguewide that the Hawks are more open to trading [Young] away than they’ve ever been.”
However, Young’s $48.96 million player option could get in the way of a potential trade deal.
The former first-rounder is also eligible for a four-year, $229 million max extension. If a new deal isn’t reached and the 27-year-old declines his option, he’ll hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
Nonetheless, the Hawks are considering the possibility that Young will opt in.
“What happens to their payroll if no such trade materializes and Young winds up exercising that option?” Stein wrote. “Can the Hawks dare to find out by trading for Davis this winter without Young exiting at the same time? Hard to imagine that.”
Stein’s report comes after NBA insider Chris Haynes said Saturday the Hawks “remain very intrigued” by a potential trade for Davis and “possess a pretty attractive asset package.”
“If a deal was able to materialize between the Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks, I was told it would not involve Trae Young,” Haynes reported.
Mavs Seek Expiring Contracts, Draft Picks
Haynes indicated that Dallas isn’t interested in acquiring Young, but the Mavericks are instead looking for expiring contracts, draft picks, and young players such as 2024 top pick Zaccharie Risacher.
Despite Haynes’ report, league sources are still suggesting that Atlanta is the top suitor for Davis. Since the Hawks want to move Young before the trade deadline, they could work with the Mavs to get Davis off their books.
Davis is playing under a cap hit of $54.1 million this season. He is signed for one more season at roughly $54.5 million and holds a $62.7 million player option for 2027-28, per Spotrac.
In addition to their untouchable first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans this June, the Hawks should also have a mid-first round pick thanks to the swap rights they acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year’s De’Andre Hunter deal.
Atlanta owes the San Antonio Spurs its first-round pick next year, but the team has a better pick incoming because of its Dejounte Murray trade with New Orleans.
The Hawks will receive the lesser of the Pelicans’ and Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round picks in 2027, assuming they don’t both land in the top four. After 2027, the Hawks control all of their own first-round picks.
