The Hawks' season is over with the Miami Heat knocking Atlanta out of the play-in and earning the right to lose to Cleveland in the first round. It is another frustrating exit for a Hawks team that remains stuck in neutral.
What is so frustrating for Atlanta fans is the contentment the franchise appears to have with its fate. If you doubt the team's lack of care, consider the fact that the franchise was in an elimination game with Terance Mann and Georges Niang on the floor. With the Miami defense focusing its attention on Young, it would be Niang who took the most important shot of Atlanta's season.
It was a miss that doomed the Hawks to overtime, where a quick Miami barrage of 3's would end the Atlanta season. Now, the team's attention should be focused on the future of Trae Young and whether or not the franchise star will demand his way out of Atlanta. It would be an understandable trade when you look at Atlanta's youth and the consistent failure to support your franchise star.
Trae Young Leaving the Hawks Would Be Fitting for a Franchise Failing Their Star
Young's postgame comments will only add fuel to this with the star lamenting Atlanta's exit. Trae acknowledges the team's injuries but still believes the team had enough to make the playoffs. Above all else, the point guard drives home his desire to win and disappointment at yet another failure. Leading to the question fans will be asking all offseason, does Trae still believe this can happen in Atlanta?
Out of the point guard's seven years in Atlanta, his best teammates have either been Dejounte Murray or John Collins. Underwhelming options when you look at Trae's skillset and consider what he could accomplish with another high-level scorer. The one season the Hawks managed to support the star, the team ended up in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Trae must decide if he believes there is a path back in Atlanta or if it is time for a change. For Atlanta, the team should be looking at drastic options to change their ceiling and bring in a second scoring option. Whether it is attempting to lure Kevin Durant from Phoenix or looking to sign a top free agent, Atlanta needs to make a drastic change. One that convinces Young to stay in Atlanta and finally ends the team's merry-go-round of mediocrity.