Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young was rumored to be the subject of trade discussions prior to this season’s deadline with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers reported to be interested in acquiring him.
However, Young told reporters during All-Star Weekend that he doesn’t have any intentions of leaving Atlanta anytime soon.
“It’s this type of league where things change and things happen, but obviously my mindset is staying in Atlanta right now, I don’t get caught up in the rumors and all that stuff, my contract is locked in for a couple of years and I don’t have very much to say about it right now,” Young said.
JJ @JameelahJNBA
I asked Trae Young about his name coming up in trade rumors recently:<br><br>”Obviously my mindset is staying in Atlanta right now.” <br><br>Full video: <a href=”https://t.co/8spfSIsJXw”>https://t.co/8spfSIsJXw</a> <a href=”https://t.co/86sqiPYQXl”>pic.twitter.com/86sqiPYQXl</a>
Young is in the second year of a five-year max extension with the Hawks worth $215.16 million. He is the current face of the Atlanta franchise, but the team’s struggles this year could lead the Hawks to blow things up this offseason.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported after the trade deadline that “several front offices” that had discussions with Atlanta came away from those conversations with the belief that Young “could become available for trade this summer.” The Lakers and San Antonio Spurs were named as teams that would be interested in the three-time All-Star.
“It is part of it,” Young said of being involved in trade rumors. “The best players in the game have been traded. I mean some of the few lucky ones have been blessed to be drafted in situations where they win championships and it all be perfect for them, they can stay in that one situation forever and that is what I wanted to do with Atlanta, but who knows?”
At 24-31, the Hawks rank 10th in the Eastern Conference. Young leads the team with 26.9 points, 10.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. If he’s able to lead the team on a late-season run, it would likely change Atlanta’s offseason outlook and keep him in the fold for the foreseeable future.