After a quiet start to the unofficial NBA trade window, Trae Young has stepped up to kick off the season. According to Marc Stein and ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Atlanta Hawks are working to trade Young, with the Washington Wizards emerging as a primary suitor.
While it’s unusual for a player of Young’s caliber to be on the move midseason without specifically requesting a trade, the signs were there. Back in the offseason, Young and the Hawks couldn’t agree on an extension, instead focusing on Dyson Daniels and new additions like Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
The question has long persisted: can a team build a contender around a point guard who’s an offensive superstar but struggles on defense?