### Regret Not Trading Trae Young This Offseason
#### By Andrew Burk
July 17, 2024
As the offseason began, many anticipated significant changes for the Atlanta Hawks, particularly a potential split between their backcourt duo, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Although Trae Young was frequently mentioned in trade rumors, the Hawks ultimately chose to trade Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans and opted to retool their roster rather than embark on a full rebuild.
Now, with most major moves in the NBA offseason already completed, if the Hawks were to trade Young, it would likely happen either early in the upcoming season, at the trade deadline, or next offseason. This raises the question: Will the Hawks regret not trading Trae Young this offseason? Let’s explore why they might have second thoughts and why they ultimately decided to keep him.
#### Why the Hawks Might Regret Not Trading Trae Young
**Declining Trade Value:**
If the Hawks eventually decide to trade Young, delaying the decision could result in a decrease in his trade value. Similar situations have occurred with players like Alex Caruso, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby, where teams waited too long to trade them, leading to a drop in their value. Young has two years left on his contract, with a third-year player option. Teams might be more willing to trade for him now, knowing they won’t have to immediately negotiate an extension. However, waiting could lead to a scenario where Young’s value diminishes, either due to fewer years on his contract, a decline in his performance, or a potential injury.
**Risk of NBA Purgatory:**
The Hawks’ unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2020-2021 season suggested they were on the verge of becoming a top young team in the East. However, since then, they’ve made the playoffs only twice, exiting in the first round both times. Last season, they didn’t even make the playoffs, losing in the Play-In game. By choosing to retain Young and continuing to build around him, the Hawks risk falling into NBA purgatory—a situation where a team is neither good enough to compete for a championship nor bad enough to secure a top draft pick. With limited roster improvements beyond acquiring Dyson Daniels in the Murray trade and drafting Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick, the Hawks might find themselves in a similar position next season, either as a Play-In team or a first-round exit.
#### Why the Hawks Decided Not to Trade Trae Young
Despite the risks, the Hawks have valid reasons for holding on to Trae Young. First, at just 25 years old (turning 26 next season), Young remains young enough to be the cornerstone of a championship-contending team. The Hawks believe they are only a few pieces away from being serious contenders.
Additionally, the Hawks don’t control their first-round picks until 2028, so there’s little incentive to rebuild now to maximize draft picks. If they were to trade Young, they would need a substantial return, including significant draft capital, for the trade to make sense.
Finally, the Hawks are gradually figuring out the type of players needed to complement Young. Standing at just 6-foot-1, Young struggles defensively, so the Hawks need to surround him with size and defensive capabilities. The additions of Daniels and Risacher are part of this strategy. If the Hawks continue to add size and defense while developing their young players, they could return to contention within the next two to three years, with Young still in his prime at 28 or 29 years old.
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