The Atlanta Hawks were officially eliminated from the NBA playoffs on Wednesday night after a trouncing by the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In game. After being two games away from competing for a championship in 2021, the Hawks have since only gone backward -- with this year being the crowning season of disappointment.
Through acquisitions, trades, and coaching changes, there seems to be one consistent trend through this process, and it's the Hawks' star point guard.
"[The 2023-24 season] was one of the worst in the per 100 possessions defensively in NBA history when Trae Young is on the floor this season -- and pretty much for his entire career," Steak said about this past season. "Trae Young is a unique talent. Trae Young is a guy who I think will win an NBA title, but I don't think that prevents the Atlanta Hawks from understanding that this is not working."
Atlanta allowed an almost unbelievable 119.1 points per 100 possessions when Young was on the floor -- for context, that is one of the worst marks in NBA history and only a half-point off the league record.
To make it just a little bit less complicated, the team saw an instant improvement on that end when he missed 23 games between his injury in February and his return ahead of the playoffs. The Hawks improved to the 18th-best defensive rating and ended that period with a winning record.
Let's be clear, there is no simple option on the table for the Hawks right now.
If they trade Young, they would likely be selling low and not getting full value for their star player. On the other hand, it's clear that the current situation is not working right now, and he has been the consistent factor in their disappointing results over the last three seasons.
"I would trade Trae Young and give the team to Dejounte Murray and Jalen Johnson," Steak said. "Hope that Kobe Bufkin can play and maybe you get higher than 10 in the draft. We don't have a choice. It's not that I don't think Trae Young is the second-best talent ever here, but it doesn't matter. It's not working."
As it currently stands, the Hawks will be without a first-round pick after this season until 2028 due to the Murray trade in 2022. By virtue of that move, they will lack the capital to make any additions, by draft or by trade, to surround either of their star backcourt players with the necessary talent to win in the NBA. To make matters worse, the team has committed nearly their entire cap to the current roster as it's currently constructed.
After their third straight appearance in a play-in game, the Hawks are going to be compelled to make a move this offseason. Whether they move one, or both of their stars, there just doesn't seem to be any other way forward.
