Amid reports that the Hawks are considering trading Trae Young in the offseason, Atlanta’s star point guard weighed in on his future with the team.
Speaking with The Athletic, Young indicated that no one within the Hawks organization has mentioned a potential trade to him, but didn’t deny the possibility that there’s some truth to the recent reports.
“It could be false, could be true, you never know,” said Young of the rumors surrounding his future in Atlanta.
“Like, you can’t focus on things like that. That messes up your head and then you’re not ready to play so, me, I’m not worried about that. I’m gonna let my game play. After the season, whatever happens, happens. I mean, I’m focused on the next task in hand. I can't worry about the outside noise or whatever fake stories come out, or what’s true, whatever,” said Young.
The Hawks finished the 2022–23 NBA season with a 41–41 record. They’re the eighth seed in the East, and are due to face the Heat in the play-in tournament. Young maintained that his focus is on Atlanta’s looming matchup.
The report from Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer indicated that the Hawks’ ownership gave the front office “the green light” to make roster changes this offseason, including potentially trading Young.
The Hawks selected Young out of Oklahoma with the fifth pick in the 2018 NBA draft. The 24-year-old is in the first season of the five-year, $215 million deal he signed with the franchise.