Heat's Giannis trade hopes just received an unexpected boost

"According to Marc Stein of the Stein Line, Young has "been in communication in recent days with Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh and is aware of Atlanta's on-going efforts to canvas the trade market" for his services. The tenor of this reporting follows an age-old blueprint, essentially implying, if not subtly confirming, that Atlanta's four-time All-Star will finish the season elsewhere."

"Atlanta is routinely mentioned among the most interesting destinations for Giannis. It's not hard to see why. The Hawks will receive the most favorable of the Milwaukee Bucks' and New Orleans Pelicans' first-round pick this coming June. They also own the less favorable first-rounder from Milwaukee and New Orleans in 2027. The prospective trade package builds itself. There is a chance that jettisoning Trae signals more of a rebuild in Atlanta than the lead-up to another blockbuster. That benefits the Heat, too."

"This theorizing falls by the wayside if the Hawks end up with Davis. He will cost some, albeit not all, of the assets they'd throw into the Giannis pot. More than that, having him and Johnson eliminates the mystique of acquiring Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are not going to have interest in an aging AD, and Atlanta hasn't shown any signs it's willing to trade Johnson."

Trae Young has communicated with Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh and understands Atlanta is canvassing the trade market for him. Those communications suggest Young will finish the season elsewhere. Atlanta appears to be weighing two paths: pursuing Anthony Davis from the Mavericks or reorienting the roster around Jalen Johnson. Acquiring Davis would consume assets that could otherwise be offered for Giannis and pairing Davis with Johnson would lessen Atlanta's fit for Antetokounmpo. Alternatively, trading Young could signal a rebuild that reduces Atlanta's capacity to pursue Giannis, improving the Miami Heat's trade prospects.

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