Along with reporting that the Atlanta Hawks have interest in trading for ten-time All-Star Anthony Davis, Shams Charania also notes that star point guard Trae Young , who has missed the last month with a knee injury, is optimistic about returning in December.
“Hawks star Trae Young, who sustained a sprained MCL on Oct. 29, is optimistic about returning to action this month, sources said,” Charania writes.
“The Hawks have gone 12-8 without Young in the lineup, and they believe his fit with a rising core in Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zaccharie Risacher and Onyeka Okongwu will elevate the team.”
The Hawks’ success without Trae Young has been eye-opening, especially with the emergence of Jalen Johnson, who now looks not just like an All-Star, but like someone who could soon enter the conversation among the league’s elite. His breakout has naturally added more uncertainty to Young’s future — particularly with his ability to opt out at season’s end — but there’s no denying Young’s offensive skill set has been missed and could still push this team to an even higher ceiling.
How Trae Young impacts winning over the final four months and into the playoffs will ultimately dictate Atlanta’s direction this offseason. If he’s the catalyst that lifts the Hawks into the top tier of the Eastern Conference, an extension should be waiting for him. But if the team continues hovering around the middle and suffers another early postseason exit, a major shakeup heading into the 2026–2027 season would feel inevitable.
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