Hawks’ Surge Without Trae Young Rekindles Debate Over Star’s Future

The Atlanta Hawks have quietly played their way back into relevance, winning seven of their last 10 games and showing signs of cohesion despite missing their best-known star. Trae Young, sidelined with a right MCL sprain, has watched from the sideline as trade chatter surrounding him intensifies.

While Young’s absence might have been expected to hinder Atlanta, the team’s recent play has instead reopened a longstanding debate: whether the Hawks operate more effectively without their four-time All-Star guard. The discussion has gained traction as new and old trade proposals circulate.

NBA broadcaster Stan Van Gundy is among those who believe the Hawks should consider a future that doesn’t include Young. His comments, shared on The Zach Lowe Show, sparked immediate interest, especially given Atlanta’s improved ball movement and defensive balance over the last two weeks.

For a franchise still searching for a breakthrough after years of inconsistency, the team’s latest stretch raises difficult but unavoidable questions about the direction of its roster and Young’s place within it.

1. Van Gundy’s Assessment

Van Gundy made it clear that his stance is not rooted in criticism of Young’s talent. In fact, he praised the guard’s creativity, passing flair, and entertainment value, calling him one of the players he enjoys watching most in the league. But enjoyment, he argued, doesn’t necessarily correlate with winning basketball. Van Gundy said he has believed for years that the Hawks function better without Young on the floor — a sentiment he emphasized again in his latest remarks. He cited the team’s stronger cohesion and defensive engagement when operating without a ball-dominant lead guard. While Young’s long-range shooting and playmaking generate highlights, Van Gundy suggested the overall system appears more balanced in his absence. His conclusion was firm: he loves watching Trae Young play, but believes the Hawks’ structure, spacing, and rhythm are simply more effective without him.

2. Team Performance Fuels the Conversation

Statistically, Atlanta’s recent performance strengthens the case Van Gundy laid out. The Hawks began the season 2–3 with Young, who played only five games before injuring his MCL. Since then, they have gone 9–3, climbing back into the mix in the Eastern Conference. The improvement has come with noticeable differences. Atlanta’s ball movement has increased, multiple players have taken on expanded roles, and the team’s defensive energy has been more consistent across all four quarters. For Young, the debate is less about individual shortcomings and more about systemic fit. His skill set is elite, but the Hawks have struggled for years to build a complementary roster that maximizes his style of play on both ends. Given those challenges, the team’s surge without him has inevitably reignited speculation about whether a roster reset could better position the franchise for long-term success.

3. League Executives Also Watching

Van Gundy isn’t alone in believing the situation is worth monitoring. One Western Conference executive told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps that he finds Atlanta’s contrast with and without Young “fascinating,” pointing to how dramatically the team’s style and performance shift. Executives around the league have been tracking the Hawks for months, viewing Atlanta as a potential pivot team in the trade market — either at the deadline or in the offseason. Young’s talent, age, and contract make him a significant asset, but also one requiring careful evaluation. For the Hawks’ front office, Young’s recovery timeline and the team’s performance during that stretch may serve as a natural inflection point. Continued success without him could influence how aggressively they explore trade pathways. For now, Atlanta turns its attention to an NBA Cup matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, hoping to rebound from its recent loss to the Washington Wizards while the noise around Young continues to grow.