Trae Young Trade Market Barely Exists for Hawks

Merlin sees Atlanta quietly angling toward a Trae Young exit but finding few buyers willing to pay the price. League voices call his trade market "minimal" and one executive put it bluntly, "He doesn't defend. He doesn't rebound. Guys hate playing with him." The Hawks may prefer an off ramp now, yet a workable trade before the Feb 5 deadline looks elusive and could push any real move to the summer before Young decides on his 2026 27 player option. Merlin notes the split soul of the star. Young is a four time All Star and elite creator who drags defenses with his deep shot, yet he is shooting just 30.5 percent from long range this year and remains a ball dominant fit problem for contenders. Expect noise to grow, not a sudden deal.