The Atlanta Hawks splitting up Dejounte Murray and Trae Young was one of the most hoped for move in the NBA. The dynamic of the two failed to make any impact on the team, going 60-69 with both of them on the court together. Now with Murray off to the New Orleans Pelicans being the popular preferred pick, Young’s trade speculations have curbed down. But if plans are still in place, Kendrick Perkins has an overheard reasoning to let out regarding the 3X All-Star.

In a Free Agency discussion on Road Trippin’, Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson touched upon the trade rumors circulating Trae. Herein, the former Celtics star spoke about the shocking information he had heard about Young. Despite the point guard leading the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Final back in 2021, Perk revealed he heard, “guys don’t like to be around Trae Young in the locker room. Say he’s not the best teammate.”

Richard Jefferson weighs in on this, saying that he heard from credible sources that the Young has absolutely zero value in the trade market. “I haven’t heard the teammate part that Perk has, but I have heard from multiple credible sources within the league they’re in the know that are like there’s not a trade value for Trae, and it’s not that he has zero value,” said Jefferson via The Road Trippin. According to his 5-year $215,159,700 contract with the Hawks, Young is expected to be owed $43 million. And all factors considered, teams have reportedly been skeptical of the sum.

Young averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists last season, but his defense has been highlighted a point of concern for long. Jefferson thus points out that Trae Young needs to up his game on defense, up his image and leadership, and then he could go someplace. Channing Frye places even more of a challenge, saying, “If you want a championship team and your number one guy is a small guy, in today’s era, he is your go-to guy he has to be everything. Plus more, he cannot just be a shooter; he has to be he has to have energy on defence...” 

According to the panel, the key to being recognized as a player of high value is to be a fluid teammate and Trae Young has often been criticized for falling short of the role. Nonetheless, hopes are not all zero for the point guard.

Trae Young’s Trade Speculations

Trae Young was initially linked with the Los Angeles Lakers in trade rumors and was expected to be a good fit alongside Anthony Davis if LeBron were to leave or retire. But it wasn’t followed through reportedly after he switched agencies from Klutch Sports to CAA. Another team having Young on their potential trade list was Utah Jazz.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Young was involved in the Hawks discussion with the Utah Jazz alongside Lauri Markkanen. “The Jazz, as previously reported at Yahoo Sports, were looking into trading for Bridges, held conversations with Atlanta about both Dejounte Murray and Trae Young, sources said, and were working to assemble a group around Markkanen,” Fischer reported.

Now with Murray gone, the Hawks might look to keep the point guard for themselves. Moreover, while lacking in defense, Young has had a good run on the offense. He has been known to create good shots averaging 43 percent from and the field and 37.7 from three last season. He also became the franchise assist leader with 3,867. Moreover, Young will only be turning 26 and the Hawks are seemingly looking to build a foundation around him. All left for the point guard is to stay patient by the Hawks and build up to the role expected of him.

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