Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young has been at the center of NBA trade rumors for quite some time.
Even before their 2023-24 season ended in the NBA Play-In Tournament, Young was already a subject of trade speculations. For the 25-year-old, this marks a stark contrast from just a few years ago when he was considered one of the best young players in the league.
The Hawks have struggled to remain relevant since reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, and Young has often shouldered the blame as the team’s supposed franchise cornerstone.
With trade rumors intensifying as the NBA offseason progresses, Young recently posted a cryptic message on social media. The post featured no words, only an emoji. While the meaning of the emoji is open to interpretation, it has fueled further speculation about Young’s future.
Will the Atlanta Hawks trade Trae Young this summer?
Speculation suggests that either Young or fellow guard Dejounte Murray could be traded during the offseason. Interestingly, some believe Murray has more trade value than Young.
“Several executives who spoke with HoopsHype say they value Murray over Young due to his contract length and average annual salary,” reported Michael Scotto late last month.
Young is currently under a five-year, $215.16 million contract, with an annual salary of $43 million. In contrast, Murray’s deal averages $28.52 million over four years.
Trae Young’s 2023-24 Stats: 25.7 PPG, 10.8 APG, 43% FG, 37% 3PT
The key question is whether teams are willing to take on Young’s substantial contract while expecting him to be their franchise cornerstone. Given his mixed reputation around the league, it’s uncertain what type of value the Hawks could receive in return.
This situation remains one of the major NBA storylines this offseason.
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