The Trae Young era in Atlanta is officially over - and the return package has left Hawks fans with more questions than answers.
There had been a growing sense that change was coming. Young’s defensive struggles were no secret, and his fit with the organization had started to look shaky. Around the league, the expectation was that Atlanta would go all-in on a rebuild: trade Young for draft picks, reset the timeline, and build around a younger core.
That’s not what happened.
Instead, the Hawks sent Young to Washington in a deal that brought back CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert - two solid rotation players, but no first-round picks, no blue-chip prospects, and no clear path forward. It was a move that prioritized immediate stability over long-term upside, and it’s already being tested.
At 20-22, the Hawks sit 10th in the East - clinging to the Play-In line while teams like Boston, New York, and even Toronto are separating themselves in the standings. Saturday’s 132-106 blowout loss to the Celtics at State Farm Arena was a stark reminder of just how wide that gap has become.
Boston dropped 52 points in the second quarter - the most Atlanta has allowed in a single quarter in the play-by-play era. The Celtics ran circles around the Hawks' defense, collapsing the paint, kicking out to shooters, and punishing every late rotation.
Jaylen Brown torched them for 41 points. Sam Hauser launched a career-high 21 threes and hit 10 of them.
It was a masterclass in offensive execution - and a gut check for a Hawks team still searching for its identity.
Onyeka Okongwu led Atlanta in scoring for the second straight game, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds. But outside of his effort, there wasn’t much to hang your hat on.
McCollum, one of the key pieces in the Young deal, didn’t sugarcoat it afterward: “They were too comfortable. We got to be more physical at the point of contact.
They got going.”
Head coach Quin Snyder echoed that sentiment, but went a step further.
“Some of those games you say, ‘flush it.’ … I don’t think this is one of those games,” Snyder said.
“We need to understand why it happened. That’s part of where we are.”
And where they are is clear: a team without a superstar, trying to stay relevant in a conference that’s moving fast. The Hawks are now building around Jalen Johnson, hoping he can take the leap - but they’ll need more.
If Atlanta wants to escape the Play-In treadmill, they’ll have to find him a co-star. Here are three names that could help change the equation:
Michael Porter Jr. - Brooklyn Nets
Zaccharie Risacher is a promising long-term piece, but Atlanta can’t afford to wait around for potential. They need production now - especially on the wing, where scoring has been inconsistent.
Enter Michael Porter Jr. Now with the Nets, Porter is putting up 25.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 40.5% from three.
He’s one of the league’s most efficient high-volume scorers, and his shooting gravity would be a game-changer for Atlanta’s offense. Defenses can’t sag off him, which would open up driving lanes for Johnson and take pressure off a backcourt now built more for defense than creation.
Of course, a player like Porter wouldn’t come cheap. The Hawks would likely have to part with most of their remaining draft capital. But if the goal is to move up the standings now - not three years from now - this is the kind of bold move that could make it happen.
Anthony Davis - Dallas Mavericks
This one’s a different kind of gamble. Anthony Davis has played just 20 games this season, and his injury history is always part of the conversation. But when he’s on the floor, he’s still a force: 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists - and elite-level defense.
Structurally, the fit makes a lot of sense. Davis would give Atlanta a true defensive anchor, something they sorely lacked in Saturday’s loss to Boston. Pairing him with Johnson and Okongwu would give the Hawks a frontcourt built on rim protection, physicality, and switchability - a foundation that could help reshape their identity.
This wouldn’t be a quick fix. It’s a longer-term play, one that banks on Davis staying healthy and anchoring a more competitive roster in 2026-27. But if the Hawks want to pivot toward defense and toughness, Davis is the kind of player who changes the tone of a team.
Anfernee Simons - Boston Celtics
If Atlanta wants to stay the course and make a more measured move, Anfernee Simons could be the answer. Since trading Young, the Hawks have struggled with perimeter shot creation. Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker bring size and defense, but neither is a go-to scorer.
Simons, now in a reduced role, is still averaging 14.1 points while shooting 40.7% from three. He wouldn’t replicate Young’s offensive load - and he wouldn’t need to. What he would do is give Atlanta a reliable scoring option in half-court sets, someone who can create off the dribble and keep the offense from stalling.
He could start or come off the bench as a sixth man, depending on the matchup. He’s not a franchise-altering star, but he’s a plug-and-play scorer who fills a clear need - and wouldn’t cost a fortune to acquire.
The Hawks made their move by trading Trae Young. Now comes the hard part: figuring out what kind of team they want to be.
Do they swing big and chase a star? Do they double down on defense?
Or do they look for balance and try to build a deeper, more versatile roster?
Whatever the answer is, it’s clear that standing still isn’t an option. The East is moving - and the Hawks need to decide whether they’re chasing the pack or leading it.