No Trae Young Trade: Why Spurs Should Reject Hawks’ Problem

There’s a difference between playing competitive basketball and outright tanking.

Gregg Popovich tanked the 2023–2024 season.

Nobody, especially Victor Wembanyama, wants that again.

So the Spurs need to be competitive, but that doesn’t mean the Spurs should overreact and trade for a name like Trae Young.

Would Young’s passing, shooting, and floaters be nice to have?

Surely.

But what would be horrible would be his trade value, contract, and defense.

• I’m not trading away 2+ 1st rounders for Young.
• I’m not trading for a horrible contract.
• And I don’t want Victor’s responsibilities to now include trying to cover up for Trae Young’s inability to guard anyone.

Trade Value

The Hawks would demand a haul for Trae Young — a guy that already doesn’t advance the team to a top eight seed in the East.

The Spurs would likely have to trade away multiple first round picks along with current talent to get back Young.

And they would have to pay him to play bad defense.

Trae Young Contract

Per Spotrac:

Trae Young signed a 5 year / $215,159,700 contract with the Atlanta Hawks, including $215,159,700 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $43,031,940. In 2023–24, Young will earn a base salary of $40,064,220, while carrying a cap hit of $40,064,220 and a dead cap value of $40,064,220.

So the Spurs have to trade away talent and pay a max contract for a guy who isn’t worth the max?

That’s a horrible value.

Trae Young Defense

And the guy is a glaring defensive liability?

Just imagine how much more effective Wemby would be on defense if he didn’t have to constantly guard everyone else’s man.

Conclusion

Yes, the Spurs need to compete.

No, the Spurs don’t have to make desperation trades.

The Hawks are the one that chose to play hero ball on draft night and trade Luka Doncic for Trae Young and now they have to live with their poor man’s Steph Curry.