Grade the Trade: Ex-Boston Celtics GM lands Trae Young in proposal

Former Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge has already traded for one highly-paid member of the Atlanta Hawks this summer with the acquisition of John Collins, but a mock proposal that’d send the Utah Jazz Trae Young from NBA Analysis Network would complete the former ATL PNR connection in Salt Lake City. Young certainly seems ready for his Hawks to make another major move this offseason.

“The summer’s not ever yet,” said Young on his recently launched ‘From The Point’ podcast. “That’s the NBA, you never know. The next day, something crazy could come out, a big trade or a big signing, and who knows, we could be the next team that makes a move.”

What if Young himself is involved in such a deal?

Atlanta Hawks get fair value on a superstar whose value may have peaked

At this point, Young’s value has probably peaked considering he is already a year into his five-year, $215 million rookie-scale contract extension. Young’s Hawks haven’t won a playoff series in two years and his 3-point shooting fell well below the league average during the 2022-23 season at 33.5%.

This isn’t to say a different situation couldn’t benefit him. What the Hawks have already done, as in trading Collins, could’ve already succeeded in maximizing his potential moving forward. But trading for Young has plenty of risks considering his defensive deficiencies and his reliance on shooting hot streaks.

Ex-Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge would never give up the farm for Trae Young

Ainge is the one who typically does the swindling (Exhibit A: Rudy Gobert, Exhibit B: Donovan Mitchell), but in this arrangement, it’d be the long-time Boston Celtics GM who’d be blindsided in a blockbuster involving a potentially disgruntled superstar.

Needless to say, though: Ainge would never give up so many assets for a player who doesn’t move the needle toward a championship — and unfortunately, Young doesn’t do the trick as an undersized ball-dominant point guard.

Trade grade for the Atlanta Hawks: A

If Atlanta was able to get out of Young’s contract and land so many assets, even if Collin Sexton’s deal isn’t the most desirable, it’d be a giant win for the Hawks. Dejounte Murray can run the offense while Sexton can play a more natural off-ball role.

Trade grade for the Utah Jazz: D-

This would be an unfathomable miss for Ainge. But no worries, Jazz fans. Such a deal wouldn’t happen unless Ainge went out in a Max Keeble’s Big Move-esque blaze of glory.