Zach LaVine's Camp Reportedly Eyed Trade to Hawks for Trae Young During NBA Offseason
Representatives for Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine attempted in the offseason to generate momentum behind a trade involving he and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
Fischer reported the Kings "squashed the idea."
Young has since become an even bigger trade candidate. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday that his reps are working collaboratively with the Hawks on a potential exit.
NBA insider Marc Stein quickly followed up to say the Washington Wizards "have emerged as a legitimate trade destination" and were in negotiations with Atlanta.
The Kings could hypothetically enter the race for the four-time All-Star. The Hawks aren't in a position to command a massive haul for the 6'2" guard, and the finances line up when Young ($46 million) and LaVine ($47.5 million) have comparable salaries.
However, The Athletic's Sam Amick and Josh Robbins already reported the Kings "don't appear to have interest."
"Sacramento has long been rumored as a possible suitor for Young, with the prospect of the Hawks landing former All-Star Zach LaVine in the process known to be of interest to the 30-year-old Kings guard," Amick and Robbins wrote. "But a team source indicated on Monday that Sacramento has no interest in Young. That has been the Kings' stance for quite some time now, and it remains unchanged."
LaVine is averaging 20.2 points on 48.4 percent shooting, including 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. Individually, he's having another solid offensive season.
The Kings, however, are 8-29 with a bleak short-term future and an even worse long-term outlook. It's little surprise that LaVine would relish a change of scenery.
But any move to Atlanta may require a third team to get involved because a straight swap between the Kings and Hawks is a nonstarter at the moment.
