Report: Lakers To Pursue Hawks’ Trae Young This Summer

According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers will pursue Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young this summer. 

Young, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have the same agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group. 

“The one name I continually hear is Trae Young,” Buha said. “He’s been to Laker playoff games before. He’s a Klutch Sports client. That’s probably the most realistic one right now.”

Young is one of the best guards in the NBA. He’s currently out with a finger injury and it’s unknown if he’ll play again this season. 

Before getting hurt, Young was averaging 26.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.2 blocks this season while shooting 42.6% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 85.6% from the free-throw line. He had 35 double-doubles in 51 starts.

Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in August 2021. He’ll make $43 million next season and $45 million in 2025-26.

Young, 25, holds career averages of 25.6 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. 

Many people around the NBA believe Young could be traded by the Hawks this summer instead of Dejounte Murray, who is also represented by Paul. According to Howard Beck of The Ringer, the Hawks discussed a Young trade with the San Antonio Spurs before the NBA trade deadline this year. 

“I think they would love to trade Trae,” a Western Conference exec said of the Hawks, via Beck.

Along with Young, the Lakers have been linked to Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. LAL didn’t make any trades at this year’s deadline because the front office wanted to save its assets for a blockbuster summer trade. 

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option. A source told Hoops Wire that the Lakers will aggressively pursue a Young trade this summer to appease LeBron.