The Hawks determined to tug the set off on the primary vital commerce of 2026. Atlanta despatched Trae Younger to the Washington Wizards for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert, ending their relationship with Younger after a tumultuous seven and a half seasons.
The commerce return is underwhelming for a participant who’s been an All-Star 4 instances, was the assists chief final season, and is in his prime. The explanations for which are many, nevertheless it’s secure to say the Hawks, who don’t management their very own draft decide this yr or subsequent, thought it will make them higher.
Why ought to Spurs followers care what occurs to Younger and the Hawks? As a result of the staff holds swap rights to Atlanta’s 2026 decide and owns their 2027 decide from the Dejounte Murray commerce. With that in thoughts, let’s take a better take a look at what the commerce means for the Spurs.
The Hawks ought to nonetheless be unhealthy, except that is solely the primary large transfer
Atlanta seemingly thinks that is an addition by subtraction scenario, and there are causes to imagine they’re proper. For nearly as good as Younger is as a passer, his offensive recreation is much from excellent. His 35 % profession common as a three-point shooter is just not horrible contemplating the diploma of problem of a few of his photographs, however, on the similar time, Younger’s type of play is what led to so many exhausting photographs. He’s an extremely ball-dominant participant who, for reference, has tried the identical quantity of catch-and-shoot seems per recreation as Carter Bryant has whereas taking part in 20 extra minutes. He has a lethal floater however is just not a prolific finisher on the rim, and he’s one of many worst defensive gamers within the league.
With Jalen Johnson rising as a star on offense and Nickeil Alexander-Walker having a breakout yr, it’s comprehensible for the Hawks to maneuver on from a participant who can put up numbers and lead a very good offense in a heliocentric assault however doesn’t appear to suit nicely in a unique function. Including McCollum, a strong veteran who can nonetheless fill it up, and a shooter like Kispert ought to permit Quin Snyder to ascertain a extra equal alternative system with a variety of ball motion, as he prefers. Atlanta gained’t seemingly get into the highest 10 in offensive ranking, however shouldn’t drop too removed from 18th, the place they at the moment sit, and if issues go nicely, may transfer up just a few spots.
The issue is on the opposite finish. Atlanta ought to see some enchancment with out Younger, although McCollum and Kispert are removed from defensive aces, however the roster continues to be lacking a dependable rim protector and two-way wings. Dyson Daniels forgot how one can shoot. Johnson has not progressed defensively, partly due to the key function he’s taking part in on offense. Kristaps Porzingis can anchor a protection, however he has struggled to remain on the court docket.
The Younger commerce by itself shouldn’t propel the Hawks up the standings. If one other large transfer is coming to shore up a protection that ranks sixteenth within the league, just like the rumored Anthony Davis commerce, Atlanta would possibly discover a steadiness, a minimum of within the quick time period. In any other case, the roster appears too flawed for them to make a run at something apart from the play-in.
The marketplace for small guards is chilly, which may damage the Spurs down the road
Such a foul return for Younger would have been unimaginable just a few years again. He’s all the time been a polarizing participant, however he was a charismatic star who put up some spectacular numbers, hit large photographs, and will deal with a large offensive function, albeit not in addition to guys like prime James Harden or Luka Doncic. The expiring contract of 34-year-old C.J. McCollum and an aggressively bizarre wing shooter would have been thought of a laughably poor haul for such a participant. In immediately’s NBA, it’s nonetheless not a very good commerce by the Hawks, nevertheless it appears to be according to how the league values Younger’s archetype.
Small guards who can’t change and don’t battle exhausting on protection are an enormous weak spot. Groups search out matchups with these sorts aggressively and ruthlessly, and it takes the remainder of the staff executing completely for it to not be a serious problem. If the defensively-challenged small guard can be ball-dominant, he higher be completely elite on offense, like Jalen Brunson, to be definitely worth the bother. It’s partially the rationale why there wasn’t a greater provide on the desk for Younger and why guys like Ja Morant and the larger however clueless LaMelo Ball don’t appear to have a lot of a market. Switchability and flexibility are necessities for non-top-level creators.
Because the Spurs aren’t making an attempt to commerce De’Aaron Fox, that’s not an issue for them. Even when they have been contemplating it, Fox’s mixture of athleticism, energetic protection, and willingness to share the ball would separate him from Younger. If the league continues to go on this path, nevertheless, it might be a difficulty down the road if San Antonio decides to maneuver on from him and hand over the keys to Dylan Harper.
There’s completely no purpose to panic about this. Fox is simply 28, matches nicely with the present core, and didn’t take that a lot to amass, so even when the Spurs do finally commerce him in a few years (which is much from a given), they wouldn’t want a large haul to really feel like they got here out on high within the mixture. However how the league views offensive-minded guards with restricted switchability must be one thing to watch, since there’s one in San Antonio.
