Spurs Reportedly Not Actively Pursuing Trae Young In Trade Talks

The San Antonio Spurs have long been rumored to be pursuing Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, with the NBA Draft fast approaching. However, while experts have speculated for weeks about the chance to pair Young with rising star Victor Wembanyama, new reports suggest that the team is not nearly as interested as once thought.

Yahoo! Sports’ Jack Fischer reported Wednesday that the Spurs have not engaged in serious trade talks for Young. Though Fischer implied that it would be foolish for the team not to consider such a possibility, he claims that the team has shown “little interest.”

This report puts the Hawks, who have landed the first overall pick in this year’s draft under improbable circumstances, in an even more difficult position. The team has found a modicum of success in recent years with Young, but beyond a 2021 conference final appearance, Atlanta has hit a ceiling. The team’s draft pick fortune would provide some answers, but this year’s draft class is widely considered weak, and the first overall pick does not hold nearly as much value as it has in past years.

The Spurs, meanwhile, are in the middle of a rebuild and must begin forming a team around Wembanyama. That’s an excellent starting point, but the team still needs more star power. Young is one of many potential trade candidates, but the Hawks’ star has some apparent strings attached. In addition to an attitude problem, he has proven to be a defensive liability, in stark contrast to Wembanyama’s all-around ability.

As the Spurs intend to keep their options open and wait to see if players like Donovan Mitchell or Brandon Ingram become available, the Hawks will be left to their own devices as they consider their options for current rostered players and eventual draft acquisitions. The team has wallowed in the Play-In Tournament for two straight years, an unfortunate state of limbo for a young team trying to form an identity.