The Atlanta Hawks haven't won a championship since 1958 when they were the St. Louis Hawks and Bob Petit was the biggest name in the league. There have been some close calls over the years, but nothing like their run in the 1950s and 1960s.
Many Hawks fans thought that would change in 2018 when the team drafted Luka Doncic and quickly traded him for Trae Young. They believed Trae was the man the team could build around. Still, championships continue to elude the team.
They did make the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020-2021, part of a three year playoff run. They ended up losing to the Milwaukee Bucks, the eventual NBA Champions that season.
Trae Young's frustrations with the Hawks are well documented at this point. With a player option on the horizon, that could play into the bargaining power of other teams such as the Kings.
Trae Young moves to the West Coast
To date, the Hawks have failed to build a true contender around the All-Star point guard. With the additions of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, that could change this season.
That may not be the biggest issue, anymore.
Reportedly, Young is frustrated that he hasn't been offered a contract extension, yet. He has a player option after this season and the Hawks haven't made any moves to convince him to stay. Both sides could be waiting to see how this season plays out before making a move.
That opens the door for a team like the Kings to make a move. They can't talk to Young until he becomes a free agent, but that doesn't mean they can't start making internal moves to prepare.
The Kings need to make a good impression
If Ice Trae takes his option and hits the market, there will be a number of teams looking at him. For the Kings to stand out, they need to make some moves this season.
That means building a team Young will actually want to play for. Sure, he wants the bag but he also wants a ring. If Young is going to be on the move in 2026, he'll look for a real contender and that is not Sacramento at the moment.
There are a lot of "ifs" and "maybes" in this specific situation. Regardless, it highlights the fact that the Kings are not positioned to be a destination for established top tier talent.
If Trae hits the market and they want an elite point guard like him on the roster, they need to do the work to get him. And that doesn't just mean trading Malik Monk to free up a spot.