The Hawks and their star player Trae Young may part ways.

The Atlanta Hawks and their star player Trae Young have begun active and collaborative negotiations on a trade proposal. With the rise of new core players such as Jalen Johnson, the Hawks are accelerating into a new era of rebuilding.

According to ESPN, four-time All-Star guard Trae Young and his agent are working closely with the Atlanta Hawks to find a suitable team for the 27-year-old All-Star. Since the Hawks refused to offer him a contract extension last summer, signs of a parting of ways have become increasingly apparent.

Young currently has approximately $95 million remaining on his contract, covering this season and next. While he has a player option for next summer, his inconsistent health this season has become a variable in trade decisions. Due to a right knee MCL sprain and subsequent residual injury, he has only played 10 games so far this season.

In the 27 games Young missed, the Hawks achieved a respectable record of 15 wins and 12 losses (55.5% winning percentage); while in the 10 games he played, the record was only 2 wins and 8 losses (20% winning percentage). Even more striking is that when Young was off the court, the Hawks' average points allowed decreased by nearly 10 points, demonstrating a completely different defensive performance.

During Young's extended absence, forward Jalen Johnson delivered an All-Star caliber performance, averaging a near triple-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, while new addition Nickel Alexander-Walker also scored a career-high 20.7 points. The seamless integration of these two new core players demonstrates that the Hawks have better chemistry even without Young.

As the Hawks' all-time leader in three-pointers and assists, Young led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but due to injuries and system conflicts, this eight-year partnership is coming to an end.