The Washington Wizards have held in-depth discussions with the Atlanta Hawks about acquiring All-Star guard Trae Young, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Atlanta, which chose not to extend Young during the offseason, is expected to wait closer to the Feb. 5 trade deadline in hopes of attracting additional bidders.
So far, no other club is believed to have entered formal negotiations with the Hawks. Young’s representatives have identified the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets as preferred destinations, but neither team has shown concrete interest, Fischer reports.
Timberwolves eye lower-cost options at point guard
Minnesota remains focused on more affordable backcourt upgrades. Contracts that could be used in a smaller deal include Mike Conley’s $10.8 million expiring salary and rookie Rob Dillingham’s $6.8 million slot. League sources tell Fischer the Timberwolves are open to discussing Dillingham, who has yet to secure a regular rotation role.
Extension talk if Young lands in Washington
If Washington and Atlanta complete a trade, executives around the league believe the Wizards would seek to renegotiate Young’s contract. The 27-year-old holds a $49 million player option for 2026-27; an extension worth more than $100 million over multiple seasons is viewed as the threshold to persuade him to decline that option.
In The Washington Post, Ben Golliver outlined the benefits and risks for the Wizards in a potential Young deal.
Warriors weigh interest in Kuminga, monitor center market
The Golden State Warriors have engaged in numerous trade conversations involving forward Jonathan Kuminga but have not advanced toward an agreement, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reports. Team officials say they are prepared to keep the 23-year-old beyond the deadline if suitable value is not offered, while also resisting the addition of contracts carrying negative value beyond this season.
Golden State has explored options at center as well. Slater notes that improved play from Al Horford since Christmas could lessen the front office’s urgency to acquire another big man.
Tax considerations around the league
Elsewhere, CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn examined franchises currently in luxury-tax territory and identified candidates most likely to shed salary before the deadline, along with potential players who could be moved to achieve that goal.
The NBA trade deadline is set for Feb. 5, giving clubs less than a month to finalize roster moves.
Source: Hoops Rumors
