The Atlanta Hawks trading for Kristaps Porzingis indicates that the Hawks are looking to be legit contenders in the Eastern Conference next season, but earlier today The Morning Shift explained why they also think Atlanta trading for Porzingis could hint that next season is make or break for the Hawks, and maybe even make or break for Trae Young’s future as a Hawk.
“You have a GM in Onsi Saleh who’s taking over now and it’s almost like I’m gonna give this a year with Trae Young and if not I know that I have Jalen Johnson, and [Zaccharie] Risacher, and I’m probably gonna re-sign Dyson Daniels and then I’m gonna go pair something with those three.” Beau Morgan said
Beau finished his thought by saying “To me this is the make it or break it year based on this trade and maybe what they do moving forward in this offseason this could be the make it or break it trade for Trae Young’s future in Atlanta.”
Now, Saleh did say in his pre-draft press conference that they’re “locked in with Trae”, but plans can always change, and as the Hawks new General Manager he has no ties to Trae Young, so it would be easier for him to cut bait.
If this Hawks team stays relatively healthy and fails to make the postseason or fails to make a deep postseason run the new Hawks GM could look to trade Trae, Young may even look to leave as he has a player option for the 2026-27 season, and that could spell the end of the Trae Young era in Atlanta.