Other than the LeBron James retirement rumors, the next most popular subject on Purple & Gold is trade rumors. And not related to the franchise superstar either. The Lakers have been linked to the Atlanta Hawks superstar for quite some time now. The Hawks and Trae Young didn’t exactly find the success they were hoping to achieve when they traded Luka Doncic’s draft rights in the 2018 NBA draft.
Under his leadership, Atlanta has gone on three playoff runs, including an Eastern Conference Finals trip in 2021. Yet, this season has been underwhelming at best. But that hasn’t diminished Ice Trae‘s value in the trade market, either. But what’s going viral right now is his statement during the exit press conference after their play-in loss to the Bulls: “I want to be here, but I want to win.”
Talking to his co-host Winston on the From the Point by Trae Young podcast, he went into a little more detail on the same statement. “There’s times when teams wanna take their time, and be slow with winning or process. It’s just like, I’m not there anymore. I wanna win; I’ve always been that way.“
“I don’t feel like I have very much time to waste, and so, I just wanna continue to play at a high level… all I was reiterating is that I just wanna win.”
This explanation comes in the wake of a cryptic tweet by Trae Young on X. The 3x All-Star posted, “I’ve learned time is so precious; don’t waste it!” This would perfectly align with his win-now mentality that he talked about in the above video. At only 25 years old, Young has already created a reputation for his offensive prowess. Although he hasn’t exactly found his fit with the Hawks, he could very well be a great addition to Los Angeles.
The Lakers are expected to be “aggressive” in their pursuit of Trae Young, per sources
There is no doubt that the Purple & Gold will be making some serious changes to their roster. With the players and coach throwing each other under the bus, teammates tired of fellow players not staying consistent, and the fans just having had enough of everything, the changes are just around the corner. Under such circumstances, Buha of The Athletic reported that LA is “expected to be aggressive in the trade market.”
Trae Young is considered a potentially “intriguing” option if Atlanta were to trade him. As mentioned earlier, Young’s offensive efficiency would mean that the offense can run through him. This would free James to an extent, as he doesn’t have to be the only primary ball handler.
USA Today via Reuters
He is already a favorite among Lakers fans. D’Angelo Russell’s dismal performance has proved to be an extra factor in their interest in getting the talented point guard to LA. But getting Young will cost quite a bit. The Hawks are likely to ask a hefty price, along with the likes of Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.
For now, these are some solid arguments in favor of Trae’s arrival at the Lakers. But whether he will wear a purple and gold jersey is something we’ll have to wait and see.
