Are the Atlanta Hawks in a precarious position? Their performance in the last three seasons certainly seems to indicate so, as they failed to make it beyond the first playoff round for two years and then missed the post-season outright during the recent season. With the recent acquisition of the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft against all odds, the clamor for a complete rebuild is growing louder. However, with the franchise having handed out its picks for the next few years, trade is the only option remaining, and the head of star player Trae Young may or may not be on the chopping block.

The Club 520 Podcast host DJ Wells voiced his support for the 3x NBA All-Star’s trade by outright stating “I think the last part of rebuild is getting rid of Trae Young. Can’t keep holding on to Trae Young. Y’all not about to go nowhere with him, free that man, get something for him.” However, Wells’ co-host and former Hawks point guard Jeff Teague argued against this point. After all, the Hawks still need a star player who could generate the attention of the masses during their games.

“You got to still put bu*t in the seats, bro,” said Teague. “He’s must-see TV. When he hoop, he put on shows, he get 40, 28, 11. Atlanta love him. And you know the fans love him. So, it’s like, can’t do that. Not right now.” The former player further emphasized the need for Young by diminishing Zaccharie Risacher, stating “The Hawks luck: we get the number one pick in the worst draft.”

According to reports, the biggest criticism during the 2024 NBA Draft revolved around the lack of enough star potential. Zaccharie Risacher proved the same during his recent stint at the Summer League. Despite being the No. 1 Pick overall, the Hawks rookie dropped out right after two games due to a quad contusion, totaling 11-28 shots from the floor in 59 minutes. In the words of ESPN analyst Jonathon Givoy, Risacher “still has a ways to go with his handle and ability to play through contact on both ends, clearly needing to add strength to his 195-pound frame.”

The Hawks made another case for Trae Young to stay by getting rid of Dejounte Murray. During the 2023-24 NBA season, the duo had a +2.1 net rating when Young was on the court but Murray was off, and a +1.1 net rating vice-versa. It was apparent that the duo’s partnership simply would not work. Young himself claimed the same by stating, “We’re not the first duo that couldn’t work and we’re not going to be the last.” Therefore, to revive the Hawks as a playoff contender by replacing the backcourt position, Murray was asked to leave after just two seasons.

Despite the issues around Dejounte Murray and Zaccharie Rischer, Trae Young can still be traded as part of a rebuild strategy. Fortunately, a prominent franchise may be ready to scoop the player up should the opportunity present itself.

Will the Toronto Raptors acquire Trae Young?

Like the Atlanta Hawks, the Toronto Raptors have also been struggling to leave a memorable dent during their recent NBA stints. With reports of a rebuild running rampant, and a new team being formed around 23-year-old Scottie Barnes, there has been a need for capable players on the offensive front. Fortunately, Trae Young can fill that.

As part of a trade deal, the Raptors can acquire the 25-year-old point guard in exchange for possibly Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher, Gradey Dick, a 2026 First-Round Pick and a 2028 First-Round Pick. The latter two would be the most appealing to Atlanta, as the franchise gave away its 2025 and 2027 unprotected picks, along with a 2026 pick swap, to the San Antonio Spurs. Gradey Dick, who averaged 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists during his rookie season, can fill the offensive gap left by Young’s exit and serve as another young player on a rebuilt team.

With an average of 25.7 points and 10.8 assists, Trae Young is nothing short of a one-man offense. Therefore, if the Hawks can put their dilemma about Dejounte Murray and the 1 draft pick to a side, big changes can take place. How do you think the future would pan out for Hawks and Young? Let us know in the comments below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.