NBA trade buzz: Hawks shop Trae Young as Suns shut down Dillon Brooks speculation
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ATLANTA — The Hawks are working with guard Trae Young and his representatives to locate a new team, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Josh Robbins, who confirmed an earlier report by Shams Charania. Front-office discussions have been ongoing for weeks, and the club has shown little interest in pursuing a contract extension with the 27-year-old All-Star.
Market concerns over Young’s next deal
League sources told The Athletic that Young is seeking compensation comparable to other top-tier players, a sticking point that has cooled interest in several front offices. One such organization, the Sacramento Kings, has ruled out a pursuit, a team official said. Meanwhile, Bulls guard Zach LaVine—whose contract structure is similar to Young’s—has expressed interest in joining Atlanta, the report added.
Washington was floated in a Marc Stein column as part of a framework that would send Young to the Wizards for CJ McCollum, but Amick and Robbins noted Young does not match the player profile typically targeted by Washington decision-makers. The Wizards would likely require either draft capital or a young prospect to absorb a contract that carries a $49 million player option for 2024-25.
Young missed his fifth consecutive game Monday with a right quad contusion.
Suns dismiss Dillon Brooks chatter
Veteran wing Dillon Brooks is not on the market, Phoenix insider Gerald Bourguet reported. Citing Brooks’ impact on the floor and in the locker room, the Suns have no plans to move him. Owner Mat Ishbia reinforced that stance on social media after DeMarcus Cousins told FanDuel TV he would “trade Austin Reaves for Brooks in a heartbeat” if he ran the Lakers. “Don’t bother calling. Dillon’s not going anywhere,” Ishbia posted.
Giannis watch headlines deadline storylines
Amick, Robbins and colleague John Hollinger identified Giannis Antetokounmpo as the biggest potential domino before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. All three believe a move is unlikely unless the Bucks star directly requests one.
Dallas monitoring Anthony Davis situation
The panel also discussed the possibility of the Mavericks trading Anthony Davis and which lower-profile contracts could interest contenders. Hollinger mentioned Wizards forward Justin Champagnie as an example of an inexpensive deal that could draw calls.
Separately, Christian Clark reported that Davis and Dallas guard Kyrie Irving had long hoped to share the floor before finally doing so last February. Their partnership lasted just over two quarters before Davis suffered a left adductor strain; Irving tore his ACL less than a month later and has no set return date. With uncertainty surrounding both players, Dallas is expected to at least listen to offers on Davis as the deadline approaches.
Source: Hoops Wire
