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What Trae Young trade means for Kristaps Porzingis future
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- What Trae Young trade means for Kristaps Porzingis future
The Hawks entered the season hoping to take the next step towards competing in the East. They added guys like Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker , looking for them to mesh with the rest of the roster. But amid an odd start to the season, the Hawks traded Trae Young to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert .
Young’s trade is the first big move the Hawks have made this season, and they’re likely not done. Kristaps Porzingis has seen his name in trade rumors over the past few weeks ahead of February’s trade deadline. He’s on an expiring $30.7 million contract, so Porzingis could be used to match salary in a bigger deal.
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When the Hawks traded for Porzingis, they hoped he could be healthy and effective on the court. But Porzingis has missed significant time due to an illness. When he is playing, he’s averaging 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Porzingis has played in a bench role ever since returning from his recent bout with an illness.
Celtics fans know how good Porzingis is when he’s playing at his best. His ability to space the floor plus rim protection makes him a tantalizing talent. But availability has been the issue throughout his career, and it’s once again slowed him down. It’s unclear what this recent illness has been, but it kept him out for a few weeks.
The Hawks do have an interesting core, which is partly why they traded Young. It was clear the All-Star guard, despite his talents on offense, didn’t fit with the rest of the personnel defensively. Guys like Jalen Johnson , Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels are plenty intriguing, plus Onyeka Okongwu is having a breakout season.
The Hawks have been mired in play-in contention for the past few seasons, so it’s not surprising to see them move on from the Young era. The guard has made four All-Star teams and led the league in assists last season. But it was also clear his defensive shortcomings would be a career-long issue.
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On the Wizards’ side, they get a talented guard who’s enjoyed success in the league. It’s unclear if they’ll sign him to a long-term extension. Washington is currently 10-26 with its season going nowhere, so it’s an opportunity to see what Young can provide the team. Young also has a player option for $49 million for next season, so it could essentially be a 1.5-year trial with the Wizards.
Regardless, the Hawks made the big move to send Young to Washington. What else they do in the coming weeks will set them up for the future. It’s looking likely Porzingis gets traded himself after an up-and-down season so far, but there’s still time ahead of February’s trade deadline.
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