The NBA regular season is over and the playoffs now take center stage. Just because the postseason is starting doesn’t mean we can’t start speculating about the offseason and we could see a lot of movement, specifically with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks are play-in bound once again amidst their mini-rebuild or reset or whatever the front office is calling it. Barring a miracle run in the playoffs, Atlanta’s season will end early, and when that happens, the future of Trae Young comes into question. He is extension eligible this offseason, and the question becomes, will the Hawks be willing to pay him that kind of money? Will Young wants to be a part of a rebuild, especially given his desire to win.
If Atlanta decides to move on, Young should fetch them a solid haul. However, he reportedly didn’t have a lot of interest last offseason, even though he wasn’t formally on the market. Around the league, most teams have their guard situation settled, but two teams stand out as the best fits for Young.
The Orlando Magic or Miami Heat make the most sense as landing spots for Trae Young
For the Magic, the case is obvious and is one that I made recently. If you look at almost any offensive category in the NBA, you will find Orlando at the bottom. Field-goal percentage? They rank 27th. Points per game?
They rank 28th. Three-point makes and percentage? Dead last in both categories. Yes, injuries to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs have played a part in that, but Orlando’s offense needs a makeover.
Having a playmaker like Young, who excels in pick and roll, will give Wagner and Banchero easier opportunities to score. Suggs can play alongside Young as a defensive-minded two guard, a role he is better suited for. Young’s shooting will also open up the floor for the Magic offense and provide more spacing.
The Miami Heat could be the perfect fit for Trae Young
As for the Heat, they have been a disaster since the calendar flipped to 2025. They are 21-30 since January 1st, and their offense has been miserable. They rank 17th in field-goal percentage, three-pointers made, and three-point percentage, 26th in PPG, and 22nd in offensive rating.
Miami desperately needs star power after trading Jimmy Butler, and pairing Young with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo would be a step in the right direction. Even with Herro having a career year, he is best suited as a shooting guard, and having a playmaker like Young, who can draw the attention of the defense, will lead to easier three-point looks.
Young leads the league in assists per game, and giving him a pick-and-roll/pop buddy in Adebayo would also add another layer. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has shown he can be creative with the right pieces, and Young would open up a lot of possibilities offensively.
Young is one of the best playmaking shot creators in the NBA. He has not averaged lower than eight assists per game for his career and consistently ranks in the top 20 in total threes made. He may have his efficiency and defensive struggles, but for teams like the Magic and Heat, who are already strong defensively, that likely won’t matter. Both would benefit from a high-volume scoring playmaker like Young, and if he were to become available, both should go after him.