Report: Kings Not Interested In Trading For Trae Young Because Of His Style Of Play

According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings are not interested in trading for Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young because of his style of play.

The Kings need a point guard after trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs this past season. 

“League sources say the Kings have explored the prospect of Jrue Holiday (before he was traded from Boston to Portland) but were ultimately concerned with both his age (35) and cost (a combined $104.4 million, including his player option in the 2027-28 season),” Amick wrote.

“Similarly, there was a push among some power-brokers for Sacramento to go after Atlanta’s Trae Young, but league sources say the Kings didn’t have interest because of his style of play (offense-first) and cost (he’s extension-eligible this summer but is slated to earn $45.9 million next season and has a player option worth $48.9 million in 2026-27).”

The Kings made the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2006. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games. 

Sacramento missed the playoffs in 2024 and 2025. Fox was traded to the Spurs and the Kings got Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls as part of the three-team deal. 

Young averaged 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 11.6 assists for the Hawks this past season while shooting 41.1% from the field, 34.0% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line.

A four-time All-Star, Young will make $45,999,660 next season. He has a player option worth $48,967,380 for the 2026-27 season. 

Young led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. He has career averages of 25.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists.