Trae Young didn’t close the door on Atlanta, but that doesn’t mean the Hawks are waiting outside it.
The former Hawks guard, now with the Washington Wizards, recently appeared on The Baller Alert Show and was asked about the possibility of one day returning to the franchise that made him a star. His answer was short and blunt: “You never know.”
That kind of line is going to get attention. Young means something in Atlanta, and he always will.
But there’s a big gap between a former star leaving the door cracked open and any real sign that a reunion is brewing. At this point, there’s no reporting suggesting the Hawks are even considering that kind of move, and Young’s present focus is on Washington.
The more important question is whether Atlanta would even want to revisit that relationship.
The Hawks already made their choice when they moved on from Young. That trade wasn’t just about changing personnel; it was about changing direction. Since then, Atlanta has leaned hard into a different kind of roster - one built around defense, physicality and versatility on both ends.
That shift is reflected in the names now in the mix. Dyson Daniels, Lu Dort, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dorian Finney-Smith give the Hawks defensive options all over the floor.
Jalen Johnson has stepped into the role of franchise centerpiece. And Atlanta used a draft pick on Kingston Flemings with the idea that he could grow into the long-term answer at point guard.
That makes any Young return more complicated than sentimental. The Hawks wouldn’t bring him back just because of what he once meant to the city.
If a reunion ever happened, it would have to fit the roster they’ve spent time building. It would have to make sense with Flemings’ development and with the identity Atlanta has worked to establish.
Young’s comment does matter, just not in a practical, immediate way. There’s value in the fact that he didn’t shut the idea down. Star players don’t always leave a franchise willing to entertain a return, and “you never know” leaves at least a sliver of possibility.
Still, that’s all it is right now: a possibility. NBA relationships shift, rosters change, and things that sound far-fetched today can look different later.
But Atlanta’s side of the equation is the tougher one to read. The Hawks have already moved on once, and they’ve clearly built with a new identity in mind.
So yes, Young left the door open. The real question is whether the Hawks would ever be interested in opening it back up.
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