The criticism of Trae Young has reached an unreasonable level, and it’s high time someone outside of the Hawks fanbase speaks up. Recently, The Ringer ranked the top 25 players under 25 years old, and Trae Young was tied for 15th, placed behind players like Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Alperen Sengun, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Tyrese Haliburton.
Here’s their take on Trae Young:
T-15. Trae Young
Age: 25 | Top 100 ranking: 35 | Overall score: 32.8
Stats: 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 51.6 eFG%, 54 games played
Reason for hope: The failures of the Trae Young era in Atlanta aren’t solely on his shoulders—the Hawks haven’t surrounded him with enough size or dynamism. Their attempt to fix things by pairing him with another point guard didn’t help. Trae is an offensive genius with a knack for manipulating defenses. He needs to temper his worst habits and find teammates who complement his skills.
Reason for doubt: Many of his former teammates and coaches have reportedly grown weary of Young’s playing style—dominating the ball, taking deep threes, and struggling defensively—which they find grating and not conducive to winning basketball.
Bold prediction: Young will be traded to the Lakers this offseason, forming a formidable duo with Anthony Davis and helping LeBron James make another NBA Finals appearance.
Let’s unpack this. It’s absurd that a player averaging 25 points and 10 assists is ranked so low. At 22, Trae scored the most points in a Conference Finals debut, posting 48 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists against the Bucks. Among those ranked ahead of him, only Haliburton has reached the Conference Finals, with a debut performance of 25 points and 10 assists.
In terms of scoring, Trae ranks second only to LeBron James for points in a series win by a player 22 or younger, scoring 203 points against the 76ers in 2021. Anthony Edwards, second on The Ringer’s list, scored 194 points against the Nuggets this year, falling short of Trae’s mark. Young led his team to a Conference Finals, an achievement only matched by three players ranked ahead of him.
The tone used to describe Trae Young compared to Tyrese Haliburton is particularly frustrating. Haliburton is praised for his “generous and generative” playstyle and his unifying personality, while Trae is criticized for dominating the ball and taking deep shots. Despite averaging more assists than Haliburton, Trae is somehow labeled as less creative.
The suggestion that Trae’s playstyle can’t lead to winning basketball is contradictory, especially when followed by the bold prediction that he would help the Lakers reach the NBA Finals. Trae Young is a generational offensive talent with defensive liabilities, but the Hawks’ struggles are more about organizational issues than his individual play.
The national media’s perception of Trae Young undervalues his worth. The idea that the Hawks would accept a lackluster offer for him is ludicrous. Bleacher Report named Young as a realistic trade target for the Spurs and Lakers, despite the Spurs’ lack of interest and the Lakers’ insufficient assets to make a compelling offer.
While the Spurs possess enough assets to interest the Hawks, including three of Atlanta’s first-round picks, the Lakers can only offer role players and distant future picks. If the Hawks trade Trae Young for such a package, it would mark a significant misstep for the organization. Trae Young is a cornerstone player, and any decision to move him should reflect his true value and potential impact on the team’s future.
