Just two years after their hopeful appearance in the Eastern Finals, the Atlanta Hawks face a summer filled with uncertainty and potential structural changes. A place in the ‘play-in’ last season led to a resounding first-round loss at the hands of the Miami Heat, prompting a major front-office turnaround and, subsequently, the arrival of Quin Snyder as Nate McMillan’s replacement.
Now, the Georgians will face the Heat again for a place in the playoffs, with the future of the franchise at stake. According to information from the journalist from The RingerFor Kevin O’Connor, the Atlanta front offices have been given the green light by the owners to undertake any roster changes they deem necessary, including the possibility of trading Trae Young if the offer received meets business demands.
This shouldn’t come as a real surprise considering what has happened throughout the season. In March, Hawks owner Tony Ressler told Jeff Schultz of The Athletic, which would not close the doors at the exit of any player. Months earlier, Shams Charania and Sam Amick reported on the growing tensions between Young and already former coach Nate McMillan, which led to various internal meetings and questions about the point guard’s leadership. It should be noted that, according to sources, the players sided with the coach in this dispute.
Thus, things became so tense that the journalist Chris Haynes reported that Young could request the transfer this summer if the Hawks do not sign a good role in the playoffs. Now, it could be the Hawks who decide to part with their star if the team is eliminated at the first exchange, regardless of the player’s desire.
(Cover photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
