Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Trae Young And Josh Giddey To Spurs

One NBA writer proposed that the San Antonio Spurs acquire Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks and Josh Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Spurs, Hawks and Thunder:

Spurs Receive: Trae Young and Josh Giddey

Hawks Receive: Keldon Johnson, Kenrich Williams, a 2026 first-round pick (via Atlanta), a 2027 first-round pick swap (via Atlanta) and a 2029 first-round pick

Thunder Receive: Zach Collins, Garrison Mathews and a 2030 first-round pick

Young averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 10.8 assists in 54 games for the Hawks this season while shooting 43.0% from the field, 37.3% from 3 and 85.5% from the foul line. He had 37 double-doubles.

Meanwhile, Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 80 games for the Thunder while shooting 47.5% from the floor, 33.7% from beyond the arc and 80.6% from the free-throw line. 

Young will make $43 million next season, while Giddey will make $8.4 million. 

“For the Spurs, this deal is all about making life a little easier for Victor Wembanyama, who’s already proved himself readier to compete at the highest level than just about anyone could’ve expected in Year 1,” Bailey wrote. “Some reports have suggested San Antonio isn’t big on the idea of pairing him with Young, but he’d undeniably be better at the 1 than the combination of the Jeremy Sochan experiment and Tre Jones. Even with all his defensive flaws, Young is one of the game’s most dynamic offensive engines and pick-and-roll playmakers. He’d get Wemby multiple wide-open looks, including at the rim, every game.

“Taking a flyer on Giddey could give San Antonio one of the most playmaking-heavy lineups in the league, too. And his lack of outside shooting could be masked by Young and Wembanyama’s volume from out there.”

According to NBA insider Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Wembanyama is “intrigued” by the idea of playing with Young.

The Hawks, who won the 2024 NBA Draft lottery, are expected to trade Young this summer. 

“I will say I’ve talked to people who know Wemby who have indicated he is at least intrigued by that idea,” MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast. “Now, intrigued by that idea and pounding the table are two very different things. I have no idea whether Gregg Popovich would be intrigued by the idea.”

Young has 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.