Hawks Could Trade Trae Young For Anthony Davis

Merlin sees Atlanta quietly testing the market for Trae Young after Marc Stein’s report that Washington could be a trade partner and CJ McCollum’s $30 million expiring deal might anchor the return. The move would do more than swap guards. Trading Young would remove the uncertainty of his $49 million 2026-27 option and create the salary flexibility or salary-clearing pieces Atlanta needs to pursue a true superstar like Anthony Davis or Giannis. Merlin smells clever math and three-team theater. Shipping Young for a McCollum-centered package could save enough money to take on a $54 million star without tipping into the luxury tax, or let McCollum land on a third team to free up assets. If the young core led by Jalen Johnson can absorb the change, the Hawks could turn a reset into a win-now splash.