It’s almost the start of the new year, which means the rumor mill will be running at full speed from now until the February 6 trade deadline. One of the latest rumors swirling around the league is that the Atlanta Hawks are reportedly willing to part ways with Trae Young before the deadline.
This rumor follows that of insider Marc Stein report that his sources indicate Young could be on his way. This report from Stein was then followed by a claim from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that he is also under the impression Atlanta wants to move on from the former face of the franchise. Since Young returned from injury, the Hawks are 0-6 and have given up 125 or more points in each of those games.
If the Hawks move on from Young and shift their focus to emerging young forward Jalen Johnson, the New Orleans Pelicans should follow the same recipe when it comes to Zion Williamson. Both Young and Williamson were drafted with the expectation that they would be the future of their respective franchises and bring a lot of success to their cities.
Neither situation has produced the success that was once expected, and with new front offices arriving for both teams at the start of the 2025 offseason, the attachment to both Williamson and Young is likely at an all-time low. Combined with the emergence of young talent on both the roster and the disappointing start to the season, it’s entirely possible that both stars are on the move.
The Pelicans’ future would be much brighter without Williamson
With Williamson on this roster, the team still feels directionless as your success continually depends on his inconsistent health. This is a sentiment Hawks fans probably feel about Trae Young as well. Moving on from him gives the team a clear future with Jalen Johnson, the Pelicans’ first-round pick this season, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and the rest of their young talent.
By moving on from Williamson, the Pelicans could cut the cord between what the previous front office did and what the current front office is trying to accomplish. It would allow interim head coach James Borrego to build a system and plan around players like Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears and Trey Murphy III that could develop over time with this team. It would also make it much easier for the front office to evaluate the future as they have a clear big three to build around.
The Hawks and Pelicans now find themselves at a similar crossroads, wondering whether the players once considered saviors of the franchise still fit their long-term vision. What happens next remains uncertain, but each game makes it clearer that both organizations are simply delaying the inevitable.
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