Trade Proposal Sends Hawks’ Trae Young To Magic

One NBA analyst proposed that the Orlando Magic acquire Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks before the 2024-25 season starts. 

Ishaan Bhattacharya of Fadeaway World proposed the following mock trade between the Magic and Hawks:

Orlando Magic Receive: Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Cole Anthony, Anthony Black, Jett Howard, Moritz Wagner, 2025 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2026 First-Round Pick Swap (ORL), 2027 First-Round Pick (ORL)

Young averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.2 blocks in 2023-24 for the Hawks while shooting 43.0% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 85.5% from the free-throw line. He recorded 37 double-doubles in 54 games. 

Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in August 2021. He’ll make $43 million next season.

Young, who turns 26 in September, holds career averages of 25.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.2 blocks. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. 

One of the top scorers and passers in the NBA, Young has not requested a trade from the Hawks, who went only 36-46 in 2023-24.

NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, though, did report in June that Young was open to getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans. The Spurs signed Chris Paul, so they don’t need Young. Meanwhile, the Pelicans acquired Dejounte Murray. 

The Hawks missed the playoffs in 2024, while the Magic lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round in seven games. 

The Hawks already made one blockbuster trade this offseason, sending Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, Larry Nance Jr. and Cody Zeller.

Atlanta selected Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

The Magic would have a “Big 3” of Young, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner if Orlando’s front office acquired Young from Atlanta. 

It will be interesting to see if the Hawks trade or keep Young, who has played in 27 postseason games.