5 Trade scenarios Spurs must prepare for this offseason
By Tyler Watts
2. Hawks trade Trae Young
The Spurs need a point guard and a second star to pair with Victor Wembanyama. They should be open to all ideas to cover those problems, and the three-time All-Star figures to be one of the best players available this summer.
Young is one of the world’s best playmakers. He couples that with elite scoring and shooting ability to be an unquestioned star. The 25-year-old is still improving, but the Hawks are not. They made a surprise run to the conference finals in 2021 and have not made it out of the first round since. Atlanta likely finishes under .500 this season and may not even advance beyond the Play-In Tournament.
Expect the Hawks to shake things up this summer. They would prefer to trade Dejounte Murray, but they won’t get a massive haul for him. The Spurs sold high, so trading Ice Trae could be what helps Atlanta jumpstart a rebuild.
The Spurs have been linked to Trae Young, and the fit is obvious. Victor Wembanyama’s elite rim protection mitigates the three-time All-Star’s biggest weakness. San Antonio needs a playmaker and if anyone can maximize Young’s skill set it is head coach Gregg Popovich. The Spurs must explore this idea, but trading for a different star puts them in a better position to contend.