The clock is ticking on Trae Young in Atlanta. After another disappointing season, the Hawks have already shaken up their roster this summer, but what if they went nuclear? A bold new trade proposal suggests shipping their franchise point guard to Utah for Lauri Markkanen, the $195.9 million All-Star forward. On paper, it’s clean. In reality, it would mean dismantling everything Atlanta has built around Young in favor of size, shooting, and versatility.

Can the Atlanta Hawks Afford to Trade Trae Young for Lauri Markkanen?

Sports Illustrated’s Alan Goldsher floated the blockbuster idea: Hawks get Markkanen, Jazz get Young. His reasoning is simple — Atlanta isn’t winning with Young leading the charge.

The numbers tell a harsh story. Despite career averages of 25.3 points and last season’s league-leading 11.6 assists, the Hawks’ record with him in the lineup sits at just .453, ranking 21st over that stretch. In the playoffs, they’re 12-15 (.444). The math suggests Atlanta isn’t a winning team with Young running the show.

Trae Young deserves more respect pic.twitter.com/DxQJF2sXVM

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 18, 2025

However, pairing Markkanen with Kristaps Porzingis would give Atlanta two stretch bigs who can pull defenses apart, opening massive lanes for Jalen Johnson’s slashing and Dyson Daniels’ cutting. Markkanen’s ability to shift between the three and four would give Quin Snyder a lineup packed with size and shooting — a nightmare matchup when healthy.

But here’s the problem. Removing Young means gutting Atlanta’s only true offensive engine. Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Johnson can handle the ball, but none can bend defenses like Young. His pick-and-roll chemistry, late-clock shotmaking, and constant pull-up threat keep Atlanta’s offense breathing. Markkanen can score efficiently, but he’s not the player who creates advantages possession after possession.

Why Would the Utah Jazz Jump on This Trade?

For Atlanta, the case centers on flexibility and future planning. Young’s contract clock is ticking — he can opt out in 2026-27. By flipping him now, the Hawks would secure a star scorer already locked into a long-term four-year, $195,868,144 deal while building around size, length, and spacing.

Utah’s angle tells a different story entirely. Since 2023, the Jazz have been one of the league’s worst teams, going 85-161. Markkanen is a star but hasn’t moved the needle on winning. Young would give them a marketable player, a proven scorer, and the kind of point guard who elevates role players.

Add their treasure chest of seven first-round picks through 2029, and Utah could build around Young quickly. Defense would remain a problem, but relevance and identity matter for a team stuck in the shadows.

Trae Young last season:

🥶 24.2 PPG
🥶 11.6 APG (career high)
🥶 Handles for days

What do you expect from the Hawks floor general in 2025-26? pic.twitter.com/MJOYO1xTWE

— NBA (@NBA) July 30, 2025

In the end, this trade makes more sense for Utah than Atlanta. The Jazz gain a headliner and elite playmaker who could transform their franchise overnight. The Hawks risk losing their identity for a scorer who doesn’t solve their core offensive issues.

Young represents more than numbers on a stat sheet. He’s the heart of a franchise that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 with him orchestrating every crucial possession. Sports Illustrated’s thought experiment is clever, but trading away the NBA’s assists leader for a different kind of All-Star feels like shifting the problem rather than fixing it.