Atlanta guard Trae Young may step back on the court this week. The Hawks have ruled the All-Star questionable for Thursday night’s matchup with the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, positioning him for his first appearance since Oct. 29.
Young, 25, has missed 22 straight games after a sprained MCL in his right knee sent him to the sidelines early in the season. During his four full games before the injury, he averaged 20.8 points and 9.5 assists but shot just 36.4 percent from the field and went 5-for-26 from three-point range.
Because the layoff prevents him from reaching the league’s new 65-game minimum, Young is no longer eligible for end-of-season honors such as All-NBA recognition.
Hawks Stay Afloat Without Their Star
Atlanta opened the season 1-3 but has gone 14-9 in Young’s absence to sit at 15-12 overall. Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Vit Krejci have taken on larger playmaking duties during the stretch.
Young practiced with the G-League’s College Park Skyhawks on Tuesday and joined the NBA club for practice on Wednesday, signaling his return is close. If he does not play Thursday, the next opportunity is Friday when the Hawks host the San Antonio Spurs.
Trade speculation has swirled around Young, but ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reported that the organization expects his comeback to boost a roster that has already shown it can compete without him.
Source: Hoops Wire
