The Atlanta Hawks have been moving in a new direction over the past calendar year or so, and they might be on the verge of a franchise-altering trade.
The Hawks impressively made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 led by Trae Young, but they haven’t had a ton of playoff success since. Atlanta might be tired of the Young era and could be looking to shake up the roster.
Meanwhile, Atlanta might have a willing trade partner in the Orland Magic, who, according to a new report from Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, are also looking to shake up things roster-wise.
“Part of what makes the up-and-coming Orlando Magic so fascinating is the playmaking abilities of forwards Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero,” Bailey wrote.
“Creation for themselves and others from those spots … should have made the offense less predictable (in 2024-25). But dreadful three-point shooting doomed Orlando to a bottom-five offense.”
“Trae Young would absolutely supercharge the Magic attack. His Atlanta Hawks haven't had a below-average offense when he's on the floor since his rookie campaign.”
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Bailey’s trade proposal went as follows:
“Trae Young for Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Jett Howard and a top 10-protected 2027 first-round pick.”
“The Hawks have never been able to figure out how to surround (Young) with a workable defense that can cover for his shortcomings on that end,” Bailey wrote.
“And they're brewing their own little positionless philosophy that could benefit from Jalen Suggs' defense and a few more on-ball opportunities for the likes of Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher.”
“Getting a starting-caliber guard, a prospect with plenty of potential in Anthony Black, a flier on Jett Howard and a first-round pick is a decent haul.”
Bailey’s idea is interesting, but he might be underestimating how highly the Magic value Suggs. Orlando might not be willing to include Suggs in a deal for Trae, which is where negotiations between these two teams would likely break down.
Young, 26, is entering the fourth year of a five-year, $215.2 million contract. He’ll earn $46 million in 2025-26 followed by a $49 million player option in 2026-27.
More NBA: Celtics predicted to move on from $118 million stud in Pistons trade