NBA Trade Rumors: Kings Could Land Star PG Trae Young in This Proposed 3-Team Deal

The Atlanta Hawks got off to an awful start to the season on Wednesday night, getting absolutely demolished by the Toronto Raptors. This was supposed to be a season where the Hawks took it to the next level and challenged the upper echelon teams in the East, after their offseason work. They acquired Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

But if things go awry this season, would they look at the nuclear option of trading Trae Young? It's been talked about at times over the past few years, but what if they actually pulled the trigger? Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has proposed a huge 3-team trade that would send Young to the Sacramento Kings. It would look like this:

Sacramento Kings receive:

Trae Young
Mouhamed Gueye
Haywood Highsmith (from the Nets)

Atlanta Hawks receive:

DeMar DeRozan
Keon Ellis
Devin Carter
Dario Šarić
First-round pick (from the Kings)
Second-round pick (from the Brooklyn Nets)

Brooklyn Nets receive:

Dennis Schröder
First-round pick (from the Kings)

Sacramento has traded away two All-Star point guards in recent years, first Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers, then De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs last year. Acquiring Young would give them the star lead guard they've been missing. They would get to pair Trae up with a couple of stars in Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, while Young would be backed up by Russell Westbrook.

As Pincus notes, that foursome (or any combination of them) on the floor together would be a "defensive nightmare"—for the Kings, not their opponents, but the offensive upside could make up for it, he proposes.

The Hawks would replace Young in their backcourt with two young guards. "The standout is Ellis, who defends and shoots well (and will be extension-eligible in February). Carter was the No. 13 selection in 2024 and is a relatively inexpensive prospect to develop further."

The Nets would be part of this thanks to their cap room, and an ability to absorb Schroder's contract, and keep the Kings out of some apron issues.

Obviously, it's early and the Hawks are playing just their second game of the season Friday night, but if they don't live up to expectations after their summer moves, big changes could be afoot.