NBA Rumors: Trae Young or Dejounte Murray 'Likely' to Be Traded by Hawks in Offseason

While the Atlanta Hawks are focused on trying to pass the Chicago Bulls for the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference to host a play-in tournament game, the future of their backcourt duo is uncertain.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Hawks are "likely" to trade either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray this offseason.

There have been rumblings that either Young or Murray will be dealt during the offseason for months.

Stein reported in February that one person acquainted with Atlanta's dynamics said the team knows it has "to trade one or the other."

It was once assumed Murray would be the player traded by the Hawks, but Young's finger injury that has kept him out since Feb. 23 gave them an opportunity to evaluate how they played in his absence.

The Hawks have gone 12-10 in 22 games while Young has been sidelined. Murray is averaging 24.6 points on 44.7 percent shooting (37.1 percent from three-point range), 9.0 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game since Feb. 25.

Prior to Young's injury, the Hawks were 24-32 in their first 56 games. They might get one more opportunity to evaluate how their backcourt duo looks together before the end of the season.

The team announced Monday that Young has been cleared to practice. The three-time All-Star was averaging 26.4 points and 10.8 assists per game in 51 starts prior to the injury.

Murray's four-year, $114.1 million contract extension signed last July kicks in next season. He is owed $24.8 million in 2024-25. Young will make $43 million next season and has two more guaranteed years left on his contract, along with an early-termination option worth $49 million in 2026-27.

Atlanta (36-42) has already clinched a berth in the play-in tournament. It trails the Bulls (37-41) by one game for the right to host the game between the No. 9 and 10 seeds.