After another season stuck in purgatory, the Atlanta Hawks decided to make significant front office changes. There is now a new general manager in Onsi Saleh, and he is facing a pivotal offseason where he needs to pick a direction for the franchise.
The biggest component of the direction will be the future of Trae Young. Depending on whether the Hawks decide to be aggressive to win now or prioritize their future, they have to make a determination on what to do with their franchise star.
One recent development could help them make that decision for them. NBA insider Grant Afseth reported on Tuesday that the Sacramento Kings are interested in Young and have been talking to the Hawks about a potential trade framework.
"Multiple league sources told RG that the Atlanta Hawks have spoken with the Kings on a potential trade framework centered around Trae Young in recent weeks. However, those talks have since stalled."Grant Afseth, RG.org
This is a surprising development since the Kings don't fit the type of team that needs Young. Built around Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, the Kings are already a good offensive team that desperately needs more defense. They still have Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan on the roster, making their interest in Young even more confusing.
They will need to move a few of these high-profile names in a trade for Young, but that doesn't necessarily solve their defensive deficiencies.
One big advantage for the Hawks in this scenario is the fact that they would be dealing with one of the worst-run organizations in American sports. The Kings are even more directionless than the Hawks, constantly chasing a play-in spot and content with being the eighth seed. They made the questionable decision to move on from head coach Mike Brown and bring in Doug Christie, much to the chagrin of their fan base.
If any team is going to overpay for Young, it is the Sacramento Kings. If the Hawks are going to trade Young at all this summer, the Kings may be the best trade partner imaginable.