Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young “has long been” on the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade radar, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Young, who attended two Lakers games in the 2023 playoffs, is represented by Omar Wilkes of Klutch Sports Group, the same agency Los Angeles stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis are with.
Young signed a five-year, $215.2 million rookie maximum extension with the Hawks in August 2021. The two-time NBA All-Star averaged 26.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 10.2 assists last season while shooting 42.9% from the field, 33.5% from beyond the arc and 88.6% from the free-throw line.
A Texas native, Young was ninth in the NBA in total points, 10th in points per game, first in total assists and second in assists per game in 2022-23. The Hawks lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games.
Young has career NBA averages of 25.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists. The talented guard is “open” to getting traded to the Lakers in the future if the Hawks decide to move him, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“Trae hasn’t requested a trade from the Hawks,” the NBA source said. “I want to make that clear. He likes playing with Dejounte Murray. He can see what Quin Snyder brings to the table. But if the Hawks decide to tear this thing down and start fresh, he’s definitely open to going to Los Angeles and playing with LeBron and AD.”
The Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. The front office re-signed D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura and signed Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Most people around the NBA believe the Lakers will start Russell, Reaves, Hachimura, LeBron and Davis next season.
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