The Atlanta Hawks are stuck at the bottom of the NBA’s middle tier. As currently constructed, they’re not quite bad enough to tank. At best, Atlanta could hope to sneak into the play-in.

Perhaps that’s why Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes noted the team’s dream move ahead of the 2024-25 trade should be reacquiring their departed draft picks. Currently, the Hawks owe the San Antonio Spurs their unprotected 2025 and 2027 first-round picks (and a swap of their 2026) from the Dejounte Murray trade.

To facilitate such a trade, Atlanta would likely have to move on from three-time All-Star guard Trae Young. Trading Young would also help the team tank this year and improve their draft-pick position for the loaded 2025 class.

Hughes proposed a familiar team as a dream target for Young: the Spurs. Would San Antonio listen to a call so they potentially pair Young with franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama?

Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension in 2022. He makes $43 million this year, $46 million next year, and then holds a $49 million player option in 2026-27.

The Hawks guard is off to another poor start this season. Young is averaging 23.9 points and a league-best 11.0 shooting on poor shooting as his team has stumbled to a 3-5 record. He’s shooting just 39% from the floor and 30.7% from three – both career lows.

Trae Young

Hawks guard Trae Young has been far from his best this season ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

The Hawks traded Murray this offseason to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package of young players (led by Dyson Daniels) and future picks). The team appears committed to building around rising star Jaylon Johnson and Alex Sarr, the first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Trading Young – listed as probable for Wednesday’s game against the New York Knicks – would allow the team to tank productively this season. Atlanta could bottom out with a purpose.

In any trade with San Antonio, the Hawks would likely request at least their 2025 pick back and likely either the return of their 2027 pick or a cancelation of the 2026 swap.

To match Young’s hefty $43 million cap figure, the Spurs could offer Keldon Johnson ($19 million) and Harrison Barnes ($18 million) in addition to salary filler. However, this scenario would leave San Antonio dangerously short on wing dept.

The Hawks would likely ask for Devin Vassell – who averaged a career-high 19.5 points on 47.2% shooting last season – and get rejected. They would probably pivot to point guard Tre Jones.

The finances may get tricky, but there is certainly a framework in place for Young to team up with Wembanyama in San Antonio.