Several top-end contenders will be aiming to bolster their rotations by completing an eye-opening trade throughout the 2025-26 NBA season, and the Los Angeles Lakers could be a candidate to make a massive change.
One goal for the Lakers' front office will be to surround their generationally gifted two-headed monster of Luka Dončić and LeBron James with a true tertiary force, even if it means sacrificing a few important talents in the process.
In fact, one NBA writer has suggested that Los Angeles may contact the Atlanta Hawks to negotiate a blockbuster deal to land their all-time great play-making guard and build a formidable Big Three.
"Trae Young has long been linked to the Lakers," Heavy Sports' Jonah Kubicek wrote Wednesday afternoon.
"The NBA’s reigning assists leader got a revamped supporting cast this summer with the additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kristaps Porzingis, so the Atlanta Hawks might not be eager to part with their best player."
"However, Young is yet to sign a contract extension with the Hawks. Should Atlanta get off to a slow start, the idea of investing in Young long-term might be a sour one."
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
"If the Hawks decide to make (Zaccharie) Risacher and (Jalen) Johnson the centerpieces instead of Young, he could be flipped."
In a league-shattering hypothetical deal, Kubicek has Young headed to Los Angeles to team up with Dončić and James. On the other side of the deal, the Hawks would land the Lakers' home-grown fringe All-Star Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, a 2031 first-round pick and pick swaps in 2030 and 2032.
By prospectively acquiring the Hawks' 2022 All-NBA Third Team selection and reigning assists champion (career-high 11.6 in 2024-25), the Lakers would form one of the greatest play-making trios in NBA history.
In 76 appearances for the Hawks in his 7th campaign with the franchise last season, the 6-foot-1 floor-general contributed 24.2 points, 11.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals on a 56.7% true shooting percentage.
Some might believe that adding Young to a roster already brimming with legendary passing talent would be redundant, but he has already begun to explore his potential to add productivity to an offense in an off-ball role.
If Young were stationed as both a catch-and-shoot threat and dependable pick-and-roll savant in the right situations, it's plausible that he can remain an intriguing offensive catalyst for a team with real championship aspirations, even as James enters his 23rd season.
More NBA: Lakers' Bronny James off to horrific shooting start to NBA preseason