{"id":526512,"date":"2026-01-09T04:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T04:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/526512\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T04:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T04:58:12","slug":"nba-legend-isiah-thomas-calls-out-hawks-for-trae-young-trade-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/526512\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA legend Isiah Thomas calls out Hawks for Trae Young trade process"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trae Young likely knew his days were numbered with the Atlanta Hawks<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the last couple of weeks, the rumors were getting loud, as the Hawks were reportedly open to moving him. Eventually, Young embraced the idea.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the hours leading up to the Hawks\u2019 Wednesday night win over the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a>, Young reportedly made it clear that he was open to getting traded to the Washington Wizards<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the inactive Young sat on the bench with his Hawks teammates, he got the news. The star guard was moving up the map in the Eastern Conference, and the Hawks hadn\u2019t even wrapped up their game yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very awkward, and in my opinion, very unprofessional to trade a player like that during the middle of a game,\u201d Detroit Pistons<\/a> legend <\/p>\n

“Very=”” unprofessional=”” to=”” trade=”” a=”” player=”” during=”” the=”” middle=”” of=”” game…=”” players’=”” association=”” needs=”” get=”” better=”” handle=”” on=”” how=”” trades=”” are=”” made…=”” these=”” human=”” beings.”<\/p>\n

Isiah=”” Thomas=”” Trae=”” Young=”” being=”” traded=”” game.<\/p>\n

(via=”” @RunItBackFDTV<\/a>)pic.twitter.com\/zi8d36fV5L<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014=”” ClutchPoints=”” (@ClutchPoints)=”” >January=”” 8,=”” 2026<\/a>=”” “=”” href=”https:\/\/<\/p>\n

“Very unprofessional to trade a player during the middle of a game… the players’ association needs to get a better handle on how trades are made… these are human beings.”<\/p>\n

Isiah Thomas on Trae Young being traded during a game.<\/p>\n

(via @RunItBackFDTV<\/a>)pic.twitter.com\/zi8d36fV5L<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Thomas knows the business well enough to understand that players have little control over when and where a deal gets done. At the same time, he came up in an era where news couldn\u2019t spread as quickly as it does now with social media. Putting himself in the players\u2019 shoes, Thomas believes there should be a better way to handle these situations.<\/p>\n

Shedding more light on the situation, Thomas could help kickstart the conversation between the league and the players to help make some key changes moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n