It's almost the start of the New Year, which means the rumor mill is going to be running rampant from now until the February 6th trade deadline. One of the latest rumors around the association is that the Atlanta Hawks are reportedly open to parting ways with Trae Young ahead of the deadline.
This rumor follows Insider Marc Stein's report that his sources indicate Young could be on the move. This report from Stein was then followed by a claim from ESPN's Tim MacMahon that he is also under the impression Atlanta is looking to move on from the former face of the franchise. Since Young has returned from injury, the Hawks are 0-6 and have given up 125 or more points in each of those games.
If the Hawks do move on from Young and shift their focus to rising young forward Jalen Johnson, then the New Orleans Pelicans should follow the same recipe when it comes to Zion Williamson. Both Young and Williamson were drafted with the expectation that they would be the future of their respective franchises and bring a ton of success to their cities.
Neither situation has produced the success that was once expected, and with new front offices coming in for both teams at the start of the 2025 offseason, the attachment to both Williamson and Young is likely at an all-time low. When paired with the rise of young talent on both roster and disappointing starts to the season, it's very possible that both stars could be on the move.
The Pelicans’ future would be much brighter without Williamson
With Williamson on this roster, the team still feels directionless, as your success constantly hinges on his inconsistent health. This is a sentiment Hawks fans likely feel about Trae Young as well. Moving on from him gives the team a clear future with Jalen Johnson, the Pelicans' first-round pick this season, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and the rest of their young talent.
Moving on from Williamson would let the Pelicans cut the cord from what the previous front office did and what the current front office is trying to accomplish. It would allow interim head coach James Borrego to build a system and scheme around players like Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears, and Trey Murphy III that could develop with this team over time. It would also make the future much easier to evaluate for the front office, as they have a clear big three to build around.
The Hawks and Pelicans now find themselves at a similar crossroads, questioning whether the players once viewed as franchise saviors still fit their long-term vision. What happens next remains uncertain, but every game makes it clearer that both these organizations are simply delaying the inevitable.