Without you, we are significantly affected.

Is there any player in a more uncomfortable position than Trae Young this season?

So far this season, Trae Young has appeared in only 10 games, with the Hawks winning 2 and losing 8. He got injured after five games at the beginning of the season, and after returning on December 19, the Hawks immediately went through a seven-game losing streak, going 0-5 in games he played.

In those five games, Trae Young’s stats looked pretty good, averaging 20.8 points, 10 assists, 3.2 turnovers, shooting 46.2% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range, yet his on-court plus-minus was -2. Another shocking stat is that during these five games with Trae on the court, the Hawks allowed a total of 665 points, averaging 133 points conceded per game.

Trae Young played five games before getting injured again, missing the last three matches. During those three games, the Hawks lost to the Thunder but then beat playoff teams the Timberwolves and Knicks.

In particular, the Hawks dominated the fully-staffed Timberwolves for three quarters, turning the fourth quarter into garbage time and even forcing Edwards to foul out. Today’s win over the Knicks held their opponents to just 99 points, marking the first time this season the Knicks scored under 100. Without Trae Young this season, the Hawks have a 15-11 record.

It’s unfair to blame all of the Hawks’ previous defensive collapses solely on Trae Young. Another reason for the recent sharp drop in points allowed is the return of Bogdanović, who provides a strong interior presence and naturally improves rim protection.

Of course, Trae Young’s defensive struggles have been evident since his rookie year. His small stature and lack of physicality have consistently made him one of the league’s poorest defenders. This defensive gap isn’t something that can be fixed just by hard work. To compensate, the Hawks brought in defensive-minded guards like Murray and Dyson, but the problem persists.

When Trae Young sits out and Walker starts, the Hawks almost have the best defensive backcourt in the league. The lockdown ability of Walker and the steal leader Dyson is truly formidable. Offensively, the Hawks rely on switching defenses and fast breaks to cover Dyson’s shooting weaknesses. This style suits the Hawks without Trae Young well, resulting in solid Eastern Conference results, especially with Jalen Johnson’s breakout season.

After Trae Young returned, the endless switching defense became impossible, forcing the Hawks to compete offensively in set plays. Without Bogdanović’s rim protection during his absence, their weakness inside was exposed, which explains why the Hawks couldn’t win a single game. Objectively, the pick-and-roll between Trae and Bogdanović still holds promise, but the two have hardly played together this season.

Trae Young’s most awkward issue now isn’t his defense—that’s well known. Instead, it’s that he has become a replaceable figure within the Hawks. Previously, his isolation scoring, three-point shooting, and playmaking were the core of the Hawks’ offense.

Now, without Trae Young, the Hawks lead the league in assists with 31.3 per game. Their offense ranks among the top in the league in scoring, shooting percentage, and three-point production. What used to require Trae to maintain the Hawks’ offensive baseline now works well without him, with Jalen Johnson and Dyson also able to run the offense, which is quite awkward.

Therefore, Trae Young has become one of the league’s most likely stars to be traded. His contract runs through 2027, with a $49 million player option next season. The Hawks didn’t even discuss an early extension with him during last year’s offseason, perhaps both sides realizing their relationship is nearing its end.

Trae Young’s skills are still intact, but frequent injuries over the past two years have left a poor impression on fans. He remains one of the league’s best passing point guards, and his scoring ability is still there. Of course, any team acquiring him will need to address his defensive shortcomings.

Trae Young is now in his eighth year with the Hawks, and the glory he brought to Atlanta is still fresh in memory. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and perhaps an amicable parting is the best outcome for both parties.