Trae Young has become the face of the franchise with the Atlanta Hawks. The second-year guard has taken over for the Hawks and continues to lead the team’s rebuild. With the NBA season suspended due to the coronavirus, Young can now relax for a little while. During the hiatus, Trae Young is still practicing from home.
Trae Young Continues to Lead Atlanta Hawks
When he was drafted, Young was originally supposed to be a Dallas Maverick. But a trade between Dallas and Atlanta sent Young to the Hawks. The outcome has been incredible for both squads. Though Atlanta has not made the playoffs since 2016-17, Trae Young and the Hawks offense continue to work towards another playoff berth.
The Hawks are building around their young star. With players like John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, and Cam Reddish, Atlanta has built a surefire team to make a big jump in the league. With little veteran presence on this Hawks team, Young is in a leadership role that could change the way the team operates on the court.
Young’s Spectacular Sophomore Season
In 2019-20, Young is averaging 29.6 points, 9.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per contest. His seven-point per game increase to this year from his rookie campaign has made him into an All-Star. Young competed in 60 games this season for Atlanta, and never slowed down.
The Hawks’ guard is averaging 3.7 defensive rebounds per game. He ranks second on the team in total rebounds per game, just behind Deandre Hunter, who averages 4.5 per game. Young’s 9.3 assists per game rank second in the league, trailing just the King himself, LeBron James.
Hawks Should Continue to Rebuild Around Young
If Atlanta really wants to contend, they need to acquire a quality shooting guard to help Young on the offensive side. Kevin Huerter and Reddish have bright futures. But the Hawks have to rebuild the roster around Trae Young and his unique playing style.
Atlanta is currently 20-47 in the 2019-20 NBA season. The record doesn’t necessarily depict the team’s drive and focus on winning now. Young is a viable piece of the ongoing rebuild in Atlanta. But, the team has to look deeper into the roster to right the ship. Since arriving in Atlanta in 2018, Young has put the league on notice.
Despite not making a push for the postseason, Young has given fans of the team something to look forward to in the future. Atlanta won’t make the playoffs this season. However, making the right moves in the NBA Draft and through free agency could change the culture.
Young is revolutionizing the Hawks’ franchise in more ways than one. His level of play has lifted the team to new heights despite their playoff drought and the team’s current record. What Trae Young is accomplishing in just two short seasons is unprecedented. He is quickly becoming one of the rising stars in the league. Though the rebuild and record may not show that, Young will get the Hawks where they want to be as a franchise.
Next season could be crucial for Young and the Hawks. Going into his third season with the team, another below-average year could cause some turmoil within the franchise. But Young will continue to be the face of the team. Atlanta’s front office just needs to continue to build around their young star and gather the pieces fit for a playoff run.
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