The Atlanta Hawks’ picture at point guard has drawn fresh attention after ESPN reporters Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks outlined how the franchise has evaluated Trae Young’s future and plans to deal with — or without — it.
ESPN’s report also arrived as a separate trade concept involving Young and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo gained traction following a trade pitch from The Ringer’s Bill Simmons.
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Young, who is in the final guaranteed season of his five-year, $215.1 million contract with the Hawks, addressed his contract situation in late October in an interview with ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, saying he’s “not worried about it.”
On Wednesday, MacMahon and Marks mentioned “multiple rival executives” speculating that the Hawks “would have to acquire another primary ball handler to replace Young, whether that’s in a trade for him or otherwise.”
Their report also noted the Hawks’ defensive surge without him, adding an East scout’s assessment of Young’s game: “He’s just small and doesn’t play any defense.”
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A West head coach also commented on Young’s value, saying, “His offensive impact is so great,” while acknowledging concern about the personnel cost required in a trade.
Meanwhile, during Tuesday’s episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Simmons floated a hypothetical trade built around Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo greets Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11).Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
“If Atlanta got Giannis without giving up Jalen Johnson or Dyson Daniels, or even [Zaccharie] Risacher, they keep their team that has this really cool identity right now without Trae,” Simmons said.
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Simmons outlined a trade that would send Young, Kristaps Porzingis and two first-round picks in 2026 (from New Orleans) and 2028 (from Utah or Cleveland) to Milwaukee in exchange for Giannis and Kyle Kuzma.
“We’ll take Kuzma back,” Simmons said. “Kuzma will be the tax of the Giannis trade.”
The Hawks and the Bucks enter Wednesday with opposite records. Atlanta boasts a 13-9 record and sits seventh in the Eastern Conference, while Milwaukee has a 9-13 record only good for the 11th position in the conference.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.