Sometimes, you just need a fresh start. It may be your job weighing you down. On the other hand, maybe a bad relationship is holding you back. Either way, you need a fresh start. Sometimes, NBA teams need a fresh start, too.
Whatever they’re doing is not working. Now, it’s time to try something else. At last year’s trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets got a fresh start.
They traded Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. This summer, some folks are expecting the Atlanta Hawks to seek a fresh start of their own. Could they trade Trae Young to the Nets?
The Trade Proposal
Atlanta Hawks Receive: F/C Ben Simmons, 2025 First-Round Pick (PHX via BKN), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHI via BKN), 2029 First-Round Pick (DAL via BKN), 2030 First-Round Pick (BKN)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Trae Young
Meanwhile, it wasn’t long ago that the Nets were the (temporary) benefactor of another team’s fresh start. James Harden was finished with the Houston Rockets. He’s uncontroversial the second-best player in their franchise’s history, but he was looking for a fresh start of his own.
The Rockets gave him one. They sent him to the Nets in exchange for four first-round picks and three pick swaps. How has that worked out for both sides? It depends on your perspective.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Trae Young, Brooklyn Nets & Atlanta Hawks Updates
The Rockets have been one of the worst teams in the NBA for three seasons, but they have an impressive collection of young talent. Meanwhile, the Nets had to trade Harden along with Durant and Irving, but they’ve got a solid roster and a huge collection of draft picks. Should they blow them on Young?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Sure. As we just explained, the Nets don’t have their own draft capital anyway. They’ve got no incentive to tank. The Nets do not want to send the Rockets lottery picks for the next four seasons. With that in mind, they should spend the picks they do have on win-now moves.
What is this team missing? They’ve got a platoon of 3-and-D wings. They’ve got a secondary shot creator in Mikal Bridges. The Nets also have a defensive anchor in Nic Claxton.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Trae Young, Brooklyn Nets & Atlanta Hawks Updates
What they don’t have is a primary creator. Young is one of the best in the league. The Nets are paying a premium of about one extra draft pick to move off of Simmons’ contract here, but they’re becoming a much better team in the process. Should the Hawks let them?
Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
To some Hawks fans, this will look like the team is chasing their tale. After all, they were just buyers last summer. The Hawks sent three first-round picks to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Dejounte Murray. Now, they’re going to be sellers?
Plans change. Perhaps the Hawks acquired Murray to complement Young, That doesn’t look like it’s going to work. What if they use him to replace Young instead?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Trae Young, Brooklyn Nets & Atlanta Hawks Updates
That’s what they’re doing here. In the aggregate, the Hawks would essentially have traded Young for Murray, Ben Simmons’ contract and one unprotected first-round pick.That sounds like a fresh start to us.
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