NBA Trade Rumors: Trae Young, Jalen Johnson Are Hawks' Only Untouchable Players

The Atlanta Hawks are desperate to turn around their floundering season, and it appears there aren't many untouchable players on the roster heading into next month's deadline.

John Hollinger of The Athletic reported Trae Young and Jalen Johnson are currently the only two players who are off the table in trade talks.

The Hawks have lost four of their last five games to drop to 15-23 on the season. They're currently the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference and one game behind the Brooklyn Nets for the final spot in the Play-In Tournament.

It's a far cry from where Atlanta expected to be coming off three straight playoff seasons. While the Hawks were bounced in the first round each of the last two years, they're not all that far removed from 2021's run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

"We've got to find a way. I've been down before and found a way to fight back, and that's just what it is. We're in a difficult situation right now, we've just got to figure it out. We'll get through it, I ain't got no worry about it," Young told reporters Saturday.

Young has been the mainstay superstar during this run while the parts around him have shifted. The All-Star guard is once again putting up stellar numbers, averaging 27.2 points, 10.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds but remains a defensive minus who is difficult to scheme around on that end of the floor.

Backcourt mate Dejounte Murray takes the tougher of the two guard assignments every night defensively and has remained a quality second in command. It's a bit of a surprise to not see his name on the untouchable list given his two-way prowess and the fact he's a better shooter than Young from a percentage perspective.

Hollinger noted some in league circles believe the Hawks are "close to" a deal for Murray. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons are expected to be among the teams interested in Murray ahead of the deadline.

Johnson, a 2021 first-round pick, has improved in each of his three NBA seasons and is in the midst of a breakout 2023-24 campaign. He's averaging 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor, including a 40.0 percent clip from three-point range.

The Hawks will have to engage in contract extension talks with Johnson this offseason, but he's played himself into a healthy second NBA contract after a shaky first couple of years.