December 2025

There were 1,494 posts published in December 2025 (this is page 10 of 150).

The Atlanta Hawks may be better off without Trae Young, but trading him might not be so easy

The NBA trade deadline remains over a month away, but rumors are starting to fly. My colleague Kurt Helin covered a whole slew of them in his recent piece, but the last week has seen one name mentioned far more than the others: Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.

While Young was once thought to be one of the rising young stars in the game, the 27-year-old now finds himself alongside Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball as oft-maligned guards who are at the center of trade speculation. While it seemed implausible last year that the Hawks would want to move on from Young, an extended absence due to injury earlier in this season showed Atlanta what life might be like without Young in town, and it may have been a vision that they liked.

On a recent episode of his podcast, The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said, “The Hawks certainly are indicating that they’re looking for the exit ramp with Trae Young. They did not make any attempt to get him signed to an extension. When that’s the case with your face of the franchise, that’s a pretty clear message that the end could be near.”

That sentiment was echoed earlier in the week when NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote in his substack, “The Stein Line,” that “There is a growing belief leaguewide that the Hawks are more open to trading [Young] away than they’ve ever been, but what happens to their payroll if no such trade materializes and Young winds up exercising that option? Can the Hawks dare to find out by trading for Davis this winter without Young exiting at the same time?”

Why would the Hawks want to trade Trae Young?

There is a pretty basic argument to be made that the Hawks have simply been better when Trae Young is not on the floor this season. They were 2-3 in the first five games of the season before he suffered a sprained MCL and missed almost two months. The Hawks went 13-9 without him active and then have now gone 0-6 since he returned from injury.

In the 22 games that Young was out, the Hawks were 8th in the league in points per game (119.0), 6th in field goal percentage (48.7%), 1st in assists (31.4 per game), and 1st in assist ratio (21.1). They also had a Player Impact Estimate (think of it as the NBA’s version of WAR – Wins Above Replacement) of 51.7, which was 9th-best in the league.

With Young back in these last six games, they are 5th in the league in points per game (122.2), 2nd in assists per game (32.2), 3rd in assist ratio (21.4), and 9th in field goal percentage (48.5%). However, they have dropped all the way down to 29th in Player Impact Estimate (45.3) and sped up from 5th in the NBA in pace to 1st in the NBA in pace (All stats courtesy of NBA.com).

Now, clearly, all of that suggests that the majority of the surface-level offensive production remains unchanged, but if you look on a more granular level, you can see that the Hawks’ offensive style changes with Trae Young on the floor because of how ball-dominant he is and how much he needs to be featured in the offense.

Without Young, the Hawks were 1st in the NBA in pass rate (45.7%), 1st in assist points created per game (82.0), 4th in touches per game (434.3), and 5th in passes made per game (308.1). They moved the ball quickly and frequently, trying to find the best look possible without worrying who was shooting it.

Over that span, they had the 5th-fewest dribbles per touch (2.06), the 5th-shortest average seconds per touch (2.78 seconds), and scored the most points per game on catch-and-shoot touches while also having the 5th-most paint-touch points. They were also 9th in the NBA in the frequency of shot attempts that were deemed “wide open” (no defender within six feet) at 27.5%, so they were moving the ball quickly and also working the ball inside to their big men often to create shots or also utlizing an inside-outside game.

Since Young has come back, essentially all of that has been worse.

In the last six games, Atlanta is 14th in pass rate, down from a league-leading 45.7% to 38%. They went from 5th in passes made per game to 14th, dropping from 308.1 per game to 292.8. They went from 1st in assist points created down to 5th, and from 4th in touches per game down to 16th. They went from the fewest dribbles per touch to the 7th-fewest and from the most points per game on catch-and-shoot touches to the 10th.

The ball has simply slowed, and the assists have regressed. They are spending more time with the ball every time they touch it and are getting fewer open looks and requiring more dribbles to create their shots. They also went from the 5th-most paint-touch points to the 17th, so they are getting their big men involved less often (All stats courtesy of NBA.com).

Of course, the bigger issue is Young’s defensive weaknesses. In the six games since he has returned, Atlanta has given up 125+ points in each game. When he was on the bench, the Hawks had an offensive rating that was 12th-best in the NBA and the 13th-ranked defense in the NBA. Since Young has come back, their offense has posted the 13th-best rating, but their defense has plummeted to 29th in the NBA. That’s the second-worst mark in the league.

Teams are simply attacking Young whenever he’s on the court, and it got so bad at times during the Hawks’ loss to the Knicks that MSG’s Alan Hahn wondered if there was “any effort there whatsoever” on defense from Young.

At the end of the day, no matter how elite your offense is, you’re not going to be able to contend for an NBA title if you’re one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. The Hawks are, perhaps, realizing that now and finally deciding that it could be time to see what kind of well-rounded team they could build if Young were not part of the picture.

How realistic is a Trae Young trade?

However, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango, and there doesn’t appear to be a robust trade market for Young at the moment.

As McMahon said on his podcast, trading Young is “not going to be easy. There’s not going to be some wide array of teams raising their hand and trying to get in on the bidding, and I’m not sure if you’re even gonna be able to make a trade that’s going to bring value in return.”

Part of that has to do with his contract. Young is making just under $46 million this season and has a player option for essentially $49 million next year, which he will almost assuredly pick up. A team could void that player option if they extend him, but that would mean committing even more money to Young, which is complicated for NBA teams given apron restrictions in the salary cap.

The other issue is the defensive limitations and offensive style restrictions that we discussed above. Any team that trades for Young is going to need to have multiple lockdown defenders around him, and also be able to build an offensive system that doesn’t collapse when Young inevitably has his moments during a game when he bogs down the flow of the passing and keeps things perimeter-centric. Some teams would fit that mold, but would those teams also be willing to pay $46 million for a player who is no longer viewed as a player you can build a franchise around?

Which teams would be most likely to trade for Trae Young?

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls always seem to be linked to things like this, and it does make some sense. Chicago wants to contend, but needs more firepower in order to do it. Coby White is in the final year of his deal and is seeking a contract that feels unlikely for the Bulls to match, which means he could be a usable trade asset. The Bulls have an extra first-round pick from the Trail Blazers as well, and Young could fill an important scoring punch in Chicago.

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have the defensive pieces to withstand Young’s weakness there, and they could really use another shooter. They also have about an 11-man rotation, so some consolidation would make some sense, and the Hawks could be interested in a young guard like Jaden Ivey. That being said, they’re currently the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and it would be a major risk to shake that up for a volatile player like Young. Would he even be OK playing second fiddle to a younger player like Cade Cunningham?

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are built to contend now with Kevin Durant in the fold, but they also find themselves in a stacked Western Conference. Could acquiring Young help push them over the top? They currently have the 7th-ranked defense, so they could absorb some of Young’s defensive weaknesses, and they have been searching for a primary ball-handler since Fred Van Vleet was injured before the start of the season. However, the Rockets are also good right now and have plenty of young talent that they may not be keen to part with.

Milwaukee Bucks

This is just a pure desperation play. The Bucks may view acquiring Young as their final chance to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in town. They could “sell high” on Ryan Rollins and some draft picks to give Giannis a running mate that they hope would entice him to stay.

Charlotte Hornets

Highly unlikely, but the Hornets reportedly want to get rid of LaMelo Ball, so could the teams just facilitate one ill-fitting guard for another? Probably not because it wouldn’t solve anybody’s issues, but it’s fun to imagine.

So, I Tried an AI Shopping Cart

The first supermarket, the Piggly Wiggly in Memphis, opened its doors in 1916. It was the first time people could wander around a store and pick their items from a shelf instead of handing a list to a clerk who would gather everything for them—typically without any choice of brand or style. Grocery shopping remains a daily or weekly ritual for most people, and it can be a real chore—especially if you’re shopping for a large family. My own grocery lists aren’t all that long, but I still find myself juggling my phone and a scrap of paper as I walk around the store, checking for digital coupons and trying to do quick math. So when I read that one of the local grocery stores (a ShopRite) was rolling out Smart Shopping Carts powered by artificial intelligence (AI), I was intrigued.

I’m naturally dubious about a lot of AI tools, but grocery shopping seemed like a place where a little digital help might come in handy. So I headed out to see whether these fancy new carts would offer real benefits or just a lot of targeted advertisements.

What are caper carts?

The carts in question are Caper Carts, which is owned by Instacart. They’re pretty large and tank-like, and kind of heavy to push.

The Caper Carts are pretty big and heavy.
Credit: Jeff Somers

You need to have an account with ShopRite in order to use these carts, as they use your phone number to track your purchases; you can choose to store a credit card or other form of payment in there for convenience, but it’s not required. When you walk in the store, the Caper Carts are right there in the entrance area. When you pull one out, the screen lets you enter your phone number, then offers you a (mercifully brief) tutorial.

The welcome screen on the AI shopping cart.
Credit: Jeff Somers

The log-in screen
Credit: Jeff Somers

The carts have barcode scanners mounted on both sides of the back of the cart, and the cart itself is a scale, which is both how it ensures you’ve scanned everything in the cart and how it calculates the cost of loose produce. If you’ve ever used a self-checkout in a grocery store, it’s kind of similar: You hold items up to the scanners and then drop them into your cart. For produce, you look up what you’re buying and then drop it into the cart, where it’s weighed and added to the total. Along the way, the cart will look for potential coupons or deals you might be interested in. The carts can import your shopping lists from the store’s app, if you want, and will keep track of your loyalty points and rewards as well.

How to use a Caper Cart

The first Caper Cart I selected didn’t work; nothing would scan no matter how I held things up to the scanners. This wasn’t a big deal—I let the store folks know, logged out of the cart, and grabbed another. The second cart worked perfectly.

The Caper Cart screen while shopping
Credit: Jeff Somers

These carts are pretty heavy, and the second cart I used had a loose wheel which made it rumble loudly as I walked the aisles—you aren’t going to be racing these carts and jumping on for a quick glide. When I dropped an item in the cart without scanning it, the cart politely showed me a video of me placing the item (creepy) and asked if I wanted to fess up to adding something to the cart. It did, however, give me the option to declare a “personal item,” which is a solid feature.

A video pops up if you try putting an un-scanned item in the cart
Credit: Jeff Somers

I forgot to put my shopping bags in the cart, because I am frequently dumb. You’re supposed to bag as you go, which saves you time; I had to bag after checkout, which did not save me time. On the other hand, I don’t always shop in bagging order, so bagging as I go might result in some of my items getting crushed under heavier groceries, or me having to re-arrange everything in the middle of the shopping experience. I kind of like bagging at the end, when I can make decisions about how to arrange everything optimally.

If you change your mind about an item, you just remove it from the cart. The Caper system will notice and remove the item from your bill.

When you’re done, you just tap “Checkout” and head to the Checkout Area.

Checking out with a Caper Cart
Credit: Jeff Somers

This will be different depending on the specific store you’re in—some stores don’t have checkout lanes for the Caper Carts, but this ShopRite did. There was only one lane for Caper Carts, and I had to wait behind someone as they checked themselves out. Then I scanned a barcode on my screen with a gun and tapped my card to pay while a security guard loomed nearby, presumably to discourage folks from making a run for it.

Barcode for checking out with a Caper Cart
Credit: Jeff Somers

Scanning the checkout barcode on a Caper Cart
Credit: Jeff Somers

The pros and cons of AI shopping carts

Overall, the AI shopping cart experience was a slight upgrade from typical grocery shopping. Bagging as you go is convenient, and checkout is a little easier because you scan a single barcode instead of two dozen. I didn’t receive many personalized coupons or recipe suggestions because this was my first time using the system, but I can see how that could become very useful if the cart is able to dig up coupons or offers that I missed.

A few specific notes:

  • The cart can accidentally scan a barcode if you get close to a shelf, which can cause confusion, though the cart will quickly delete it if the weight doesn’t change.

  • As noted above, the carts are pretty heavy. If you’re going to be buying a lot of groceries all at once, this could become a real workout.

  • Adding produce can be a little complicated: You have to locate the “price look up” (PLU) code for the specific produce you’re adding, then scan or type it into the screen before dropping it into the cart. That means sometimes hunting for those little stickers and tapping a bunch of numbers into your cart over and over again.

  • Seeing your total spend add up in real time is useful, especially if you’re tracking costs. If an item costs more than expected, you see it immediately, and if the overall cost is more than anticipated you have time to adjust your selections before you hit the checkout.

  • Because you have to go through a checkout lane as usual (and there was only one dedicated lane for Caper Carts), during busy times you might wind up waiting a long time to get out of the store, which kind of cancels out the convenience factor. Of course, as more people use these carts, ShopRite might add more dedicated Caper lanes.

Depending on how you shop for groceries, these AI shopping carts might be worth a try—but don’t expect a revolutionary experience.

What would the plan look like if the Hawks were to move off Trae Young?

Trae Young is in limbo these days with a $49 million player option for next season, which the Hawks have some indirect control over. 

No, they don’t control the option, but their unwillingness to give him an extension allows them to pivot toward budding star Jalen Johnson, who has become the best player on the team. 

In essence, the Hawks have to ask themselves whether Young is the worth the salary slot, or if they can use it in a more optimal manner, further dedicating themselves to Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who was the Most Improved Player last season. 

The evolution of Nickeil Alexander-Walker isn’t making the situation any easier, as he’s broken out this season, averaging 20.3 points while acting as a defensive playmaker alongside Daniels.

So what should the Hawks do? Let’s break it down:

Forward Jalen Johnson has changed the Hawks’ priorities. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Identifying needs and building a plan 

So, what type of player should the Hawks target, if Young should move on? And by all accounts, the Hawks are open to facilitate that process on their own. 

The need for a point guard would still be present, yet the player will need significant off-ball capabilities to optimize floor spacing around Johnson. 

Given the large contractual hold, it also allows Atlanta to seek improved bench depth, preferably prioritizing wing depth and 3-point shooting. 

Could the Hawks make a play for Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu as a third guard, or lean into Naji Marshall from the Dallas Mavericks? 

Both would be upgrades that could help push them into the postseason. It might appear as the Hawks are thinking small, and obviously the compensation level should far exceed both Dosunmu and Marshall, but the idea that Atlanta doesn’t need a heliocentric floor leader remains a solid one. 

Perhaps, then, it becomes a question of direction as opposed to identifying specific players. 

Assuming Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Daniels are the current core, with the asset from the Pelicans pick being added to that pool, the Hawks could focus on the summer of 2026 and beyond, as opposed to chasing a playoff spot this year. 

Would they instead be willing to flip Young for a number of expiring contracts and draft picks, kicking the can down the road a year? 

It’s a tough balance, especially considering how well Johnson and Alexander-Walker are performing this season. 

But therein lies the potential sacrifice. 

While there are no guarantees Alexander-Walker will ever have a season like this again, Johnson is sure to develop even further. If the Hawks identify the 2026 summer as their turning point, perhaps they’d be willing to risk Alexander-Walker’s season as being a one-off and not capitalizing on it for the sake of the long-term vision. 

Of course, that leaves some open-ended questions in regard to one of their youngsters. 

The idea of moving off Zaccharie Risacher is weird

It has been reported the Hawks are open to moving off Zaccharie Risacher, last year’s top draft pick, due to his lack of development. 

First off, it’s undeniably true that the 6-foot-9 wing hasn’t developed further. If anything, he’s regressed and is showing some concerning signs of being an NBA enigma. 

(Risacher is grabbing just 2.9 rebounds per game, isn’t a playmaker and maintains only modest scoring efficiency, but has the physical tools to keep teams enticed for probably a decade.) 

Moving off Risacher makes sense if the Hawks are trying to win now. But realistically, any attempt to do so would be awkward if Young feels as though his exit is pending. 

It’d be additionally awkward if they acquire a player like Anthony Davis, who they’re apparently interested in, and he becomes unavailable due to immediate injuries — which is something they need to take into account given his history. 

Finally, relinquishing Risacher in a trade when his value is arguably at its lowest is never a smart business move. 

You don’t buy at $9, sell at $4.25 and consider yourself a winner. 

His situation might be frustrating for the Hawks, but if they choose to go the long-term route, they have far more incentive to hang onto him, at least until summer. 

Risacher can work with Johnson, and he should be able to work with a new super rookie, if Atlanta ends up landing a high pick via New Orleans. 

There simply shouldn’t be a rush to push Risacher out the door. 

Which direction should the Hawks choose? 

It’s easy to stand outside the window and make calls on the behalf of others, but logic dictates patience. 

Johnson turned 24 just 11 days ago, so there’s a bit of runway here to build something without wasting his prime years. 

Moving off Young and shopping him to teams in dire need of a star might be the right call, as long as Atlanta secures either young players with a few years left on their rookie deals, or draft equity as part of the compensation package. 

Given that Atlanta is enjoying great contractual value from Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu (the duo earns just $30.1 million this year, combining for over 36 points and 10 rebounds per game), they’re also not in any rush to pivot off them. 

In fact, the Hawks have somewhat clean books, a stable situation in regard to young players and a valuable incoming pick in a strong draft. 

If that isn’t enough incentive to at least explore the long-term outlook this summer, nothing is. 

What would the plan look like if the Hawks were to move off Trae Young?

Trae Young is in limbo these days with a $49 million player option for next season, which the Hawks have some indirect control over. 

No, they don’t control the option, but their unwillingness to give him an extension allows them to pivot toward budding star Jalen Johnson, who has become the best player on the team. 

In essence, the Hawks have to ask themselves whether Young is the worth the salary slot, or if they can use it in a more optimal manner, further dedicating themselves to Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who was the Most Improved Player last season. 

The evolution of Nickeil Alexander-Walker isn’t making the situation any easier, as he’s broken out this season, averaging 20.3 points while acting as a defensive playmaker alongside Daniels.

So what should the Hawks do? Let’s break it down:

Forward Jalen Johnson has changed the Hawks’ priorities. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Identifying needs and building a plan 

So, what type of player should the Hawks target, if Young should move on? And by all accounts, the Hawks are open to facilitate that process on their own. 

The need for a point guard would still be present, yet the player will need significant off-ball capabilities to optimize floor spacing around Johnson. 

Given the large contractual hold, it also allows Atlanta to seek improved bench depth, preferably prioritizing wing depth and 3-point shooting. 

Could the Hawks make a play for Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu as a third guard, or lean into Naji Marshall from the Dallas Mavericks? 

Both would be upgrades that could help push them into the postseason. It might appear as the Hawks are thinking small, and obviously the compensation level should far exceed both Dosunmu and Marshall, but the idea that Atlanta doesn’t need a heliocentric floor leader remains a solid one. 

Perhaps, then, it becomes a question of direction as opposed to identifying specific players. 

Assuming Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Daniels are the current core, with the asset from the Pelicans pick being added to that pool, the Hawks could focus on the summer of 2026 and beyond, as opposed to chasing a playoff spot this year. 

Would they instead be willing to flip Young for a number of expiring contracts and draft picks, kicking the can down the road a year? 

It’s a tough balance, especially considering how well Johnson and Alexander-Walker are performing this season. 

But therein lies the potential sacrifice. 

While there are no guarantees Alexander-Walker will ever have a season like this again, Johnson is sure to develop even further. If the Hawks identify the 2026 summer as their turning point, perhaps they’d be willing to risk Alexander-Walker’s season as being a one-off and not capitalizing on it for the sake of the long-term vision. 

Of course, that leaves some open-ended questions in regard to one of their youngsters. 

The idea of moving off Zaccharie Risacher is weird

It has been reported the Hawks are open to moving off Zaccharie Risacher, last year’s top draft pick, due to his lack of development. 

First off, it’s undeniably true that the 6-foot-9 wing hasn’t developed further. If anything, he’s regressed and is showing some concerning signs of being an NBA enigma. 

(Risacher is grabbing just 2.9 rebounds per game, isn’t a playmaker and maintains only modest scoring efficiency, but has the physical tools to keep teams enticed for probably a decade.) 

Moving off Risacher makes sense if the Hawks are trying to win now. But realistically, any attempt to do so would be awkward if Young feels as though his exit is pending. 

It’d be additionally awkward if they acquire a player like Anthony Davis, who they’re apparently interested in, and he becomes unavailable due to immediate injuries — which is something they need to take into account given his history. 

Finally, relinquishing Risacher in a trade when his value is arguably at its lowest is never a smart business move. 

You don’t buy at $9, sell at $4.25 and consider yourself a winner. 

His situation might be frustrating for the Hawks, but if they choose to go the long-term route, they have far more incentive to hang onto him, at least until summer. 

Risacher can work with Johnson, and he should be able to work with a new super rookie, if Atlanta ends up landing a high pick via New Orleans. 

There simply shouldn’t be a rush to push Risacher out the door. 

Which direction should the Hawks choose? 

It’s easy to stand outside the window and make calls on the behalf of others, but logic dictates patience. 

Johnson turned 24 just 11 days ago, so there’s a bit of runway here to build something without wasting his prime years. 

Moving off Young and shopping him to teams in dire need of a star might be the right call, as long as Atlanta secures either young players with a few years left on their rookie deals, or draft equity as part of the compensation package. 

Given that Atlanta is enjoying great contractual value from Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu (the duo earns just $30.1 million this year, combining for over 36 points and 10 rebounds per game), they’re also not in any rush to pivot off them. 

In fact, the Hawks have somewhat clean books, a stable situation in regard to young players and a valuable incoming pick in a strong draft. 

If that isn’t enough incentive to at least explore the long-term outlook this summer, nothing is.