In the Atlanta Hawks’ fifth game this season, Trae Young was sidelined with a knee injury. In November, a month he missed entirely, the young core of the Trae-less Hawks played incredibly promising basketball.
A heavy increase in defensive production has offset the predictable drop in the Hawks’ offensive production. The Hawks have overachieved thus far, holding an encouraging 12-8 record in his absence.
Trae Young made his return on Dec. 18 in Charlotte, playing only 20 minutes in a brutal loss to the Hornets. The following night, in a home game against the Spurs, the Hawks decided to sit Young to manage his recovery from the knee injury. Playing back-to-back games after missing 22 consecutive games was never realistic. Atlanta should see a healthy Young back for a significant upcoming four-game home stretch.
As the Hawks and a healthy Trae Young near the Feb. 5 trade deadline, five burning questions are set to be answered for the Hawks’ front office and coach Quin Snyder.
How Real Is Jalen Johnson’s Rise?
Jalen Johnson showed plenty of signs last season (2024–2025) before a shoulder injury forced him out for the rest of the year in January.
Last season, he broke out by averaging just under 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. More importantly, he demonstrated great chemistry with Trae Young on the offensive side of the floor. This season, in Trae’s absence, he has solidified his status as a basketball star.
About a quarter of the way through the season, he’s posting career-best numbers: 23.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game at just 24 years old. His advanced stats—especially VORP (value over replacement player) and PER (player efficiency rating)—are impressive. Johnson ranks eighth and ninth in the NBA in those categories, respectively. He’s on track to easily make his first All-Star game and could even earn an All-NBA team selection if he maintains this elite level of play.
Even more impressive, he scored a career-high 43 points in Young’s first game back against Charlotte. This shows that Trae’s presence on the court will only boost Johnson’s scoring.
So, Johnson’s rise is very real. However, it’s now essential that the Hawks and Quin Snyder figure out how to maximize the potential of what could become one of the top offensive duos in all of basketball.
Will Young Finally Expand His Off-Ball Game?
One of the things Snyder and his staff will surely be looking for now more than ever is Young’s development as an off-ball threat.
When Young was drafted in 2018, and even as early as his high school days, he was directly compared to the great Steph Curry. From the small size to the logo threes and late-game antics, there are many similarities between the two.
This has always been a strange comparison, though, because Trae Young’s role in the NBA has primarily been the ball-dominant, pick-and-roll playmaker. His style stands in stark contrast to Curry’s unique methods of off-ball chaos. Curry mainly relies on the threat of his three-point shot and his never-ending movement away from the ball.
It’s always been an unfair comparison for Trae, but if he could take a few small aspects from Steph Curry’s ridiculous style, the Hawks would see countless benefits.
Trae’s off-ball growth would allow Atlanta to continue experimenting with Jalen Johnson as a valid number one option. Also, it should help develop the offensive games of other young players, such as former first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. But the most critical aspect of Trae’s development away from the ball would be an increase in his defensive energy, effort, and production.
The Hawks have wanted Trae to evolve into this role for years now, and the supporting cast is finally adequate for Trae to buy into the role completely.
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What Will Quin Snyder’s Ideal Five-Man Lineups Look Like?
With Trae out for an extended period and co-star Kristaps Porzingis struggling with availability all year, Snyder hasn’t quite figured out the best lineups for this squad.
A couple of things seem to remain true regardless, like staggering Dyson Daniels and Alexander-Walker’s minutes to ensure one of them is on the floor.
Other aspects of his rotation have been somewhat inconsistent. Backup point guard Keaton Wallace will probably see his minutes diminish close to zero when Trae re-enters the lineup. Wallace has been a liability on both ends of the floor, and lineups with him on the floor have struggled mightily.
If Wallace does exit the rotation, it would be encouraging to see more Nickeil Alexander-Walker minutes in those spots. The bench lineup is in desperate need of a consistent playmaker and shot creator, and NAW can fill that void.
It would also be helpful to see Zaccharie Risacher, who’s been struggling this season, receive more minutes and production when Young returns. Trae’s ability to make reads and passes with the best of them should help get guys like Risacher easier looks at the basket.
Does Trae’s Return Undo the Hawks’ Defensive Progress?
The most promising aspect of the Hawks without Trae Young has been their defense. Since Trae has been the franchise’s centerpiece since 2020, Atlanta’s defense has been indigent.
It’s been a top priority in every draft and offseason since Trae established himself as a bona fide star. The best defensive ranking the team has finished since 2020 is 18th, which makes it nearly impossible to be a true contender.
However, looking at November’s NBA team stats, during which Trae did not play, shows the Hawks achieved the ninth-best defense in that period. While it’s uncertain if this defensive consistency will be maintained when Trae returns, it’s clear it shouldn’t immediately fall back to the bottom.
There have been stretches where they’ve looked even better than a ninth-ranked defense, especially with the formidable perimeter duo of Dyson Daniels and Nickeil-Alexander Walker. This marks a significant step forward for Atlanta. It will be crucial for the Hawks to preserve their defensive identity formed without Trae when he rejoins the lineup.
Will Trae Young Remain Part of the Long-Term Plan?
It’s well known within the Atlanta Hawks organization that Trae Young’s role as the franchise’s cornerstone is diminishing. The Hawks didn’t offer Young his extension this past summer, which means decision time is quickly approaching.
Atlanta’s front office essentially has two options: extend him to a likely four-plus-year contract with a yearly salary over $50 million, or trade Trae before the Feb. 5 deadline and focus on developing the young core. Either choice would significantly impact the team and franchise.
This is a crucial moment in the rise of this young team, and the decision could determine the Hawks’ future. As Trae Young returns to the rotation, the front office will evaluate the first four questions and, ultimately, must decide Young’s future in Atlanta.
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