Trae Young Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Stein’s Latest: Davis, Mavs, VanVleet, Lakers

January 4th, 2026 at 5:02pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Hawks and Mavericks are in something of a holding pattern when it comes to a potential Anthony Davis trade, Marc Stein reports for The Stein Line (subscriber link).

Given Atlanta’s tendency to avoid the luxury tax, Stein writes that it’s unlikely that the team will add Davis’ contract, which will pay him $58.5MM next season and $62.8MM in the 2027/28 season, without moving Trae Young, who has a $48.9MM player option for next season.

Stein adds that, despite previous reports that the Hawks would be willing to move former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in the right deal, his sources indicate that an in-season trade for Davis would not likely be considered one such deal.

Rich Paul, who represents Davis, is also a player in these conversations. Stein notes that Paul has a strong, plugged-in relationship with many of the top decision-makers in the Mavericks organization and that there are indications that he views Atlanta as a good landing spot for his client, though such a deal could have to wait until the offseason.

We have more from Stein’s most recent newsletter:

Regardless of what happens with Davis, it’s clear that the Mavs are taking a hard look at their roster. Stein writes that there’s a belief that everyone on the team outside of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving is considered potentially on the table. The Mavs are currently 13-23 on the season and have lost six of their last eight games.
When Fred VanVleet tore his ACL during an unofficial Rockets preseason mini-camp, it was expected that he would miss the rest of the 2025/26 season. However, Stein reports that Houston isn’t ruling out a return for the 31-year-old point guard. VanVleet is apparently attacking his rehab process hard with the intention of giving himself the chance of returning to play before the season is over.
The Lakers‘ desire to add a two-way wing such as Herbert Jones or Trey Murphy III is well-documented, but their pathway to adding that player is complicated for multiple reasons. The first is that the two Pelicans’ wings are considered unlikely to be moved before the trade deadline, and the second is that the Lakers are not expected to sacrifice financial flexibility in any deal that doesn’t bring in a player they consider a real needle-mover, Stein writes. With two-way wings being some of the most coveted players around the league, there’s a question of how likely it is that someone who fits the bill will suddenly become available.

Injury Notes: LaVine, D. Jones, T. Young, J. Smith, C. White

January 4th, 2026 at 2:26pm CST by Rory Maher

After missing nine games with a left ankle sprain, Kings wing Zach LaVine will return to action on Sunday against Milwaukee, tweets James Ham of TheKingsBeat.com. Rookie center Maxime Raynaud will also be active after having an injury scare in Friday’s loss to Phoenix.

LaVine is reportedly one of several players the Bucks are monitoring ahead of the trade deadline, so it’s an interesting coincidence that he’s returning today.

Here are a few more injury-relates updates from around the NBA:

Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. suffered a right knee injury in Saturday’s loss to Boston and will undergo an MRI on Sunday, reports Law Murray of The Athletic (All Twitter links here). According to Murray, Jones limped to the locker room after being fouled by Payton Pritchard in the fourth quarter. It’s a disappointing development for the high-flying Jones, who just returned to action on December 28 after missing several weeks with a sprained MCL in the same knee.
Hawks point guard Trae Young missed his fourth straight game on Saturday at Toronto, per Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks (Twitter link). The four-time All-Star has been battling a right quad contusion. Kristaps Porzingis (return to competition reconditioning) was also out for the second night of a back-to-back, which was expected, Rowland notes (via Twitter).
Bulls big man Jalen Smith has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol after taking a hard hit to the head in the third quarter of Saturday’s loss to Charlotte, head coach Billy Donovan said after the game (Twitter link via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network). Smith has been ruled out of Monday’s contest at Boston after being diagnosed with a concussion (link to injury report). On a brighter note, guard Coby White has a chance to return Monday — he’s questionable with what the team is calling right calf injury management.

Injury Notes: Warriors, Young, LaVine, Pistons

January 2nd, 2026 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

After previously announcing that Draymond Green would miss Friday’s matchup with the defending champion Thunder, the Warriors have also ruled out Stephen Curry (left ankle sprain) and Jimmy Butler (illness), per Anthony Slater and Shams Charania of ESPN.

It’s the first half of a back-to-back set, and the Warriors are hopeful that all three players will be back on Saturday vs. Utah, according to Slater and Charania. It’s also worth noting that Friday’s game will be nationally televised, which means Curry and Butler couldn’t be rested without legitimate ailments, since they qualify as “stars” under the NBA’s player participation policy. Green, who doesn’t meet the star criteria, is listed on the injury report as out due to “rest.”

With three starters sidelined, forward Jonathan Kuminga is expected to play on Friday for the first time in over two weeks, head coach Steve Kerr said today during a radio appearance on 95.7 The Game (Twitter link).

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:

Hawks guard Trae Young (right quad contusion) has been ruled out for a third consecutive game and won’t be available on Friday in New York, tweets Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks. Young was initially listed as questionable, which suggests he’s considered day-to-day and should probably return soon, barring a setback.
Kings guard Zach LaVine will miss a ninth straight game on Friday vs. Phoenix due to a left ankle sprain. Asked on Thursday if he had any updates on LaVine’s status, head coach Doug Christie had little to offer, telling reporters there’s “nothing new” (Twitter video link via James Ham of The Kings Beat).
The Pistons were without Tobias Harris (left hip sprain) and Caris LeVert (left knee inflammation) for Thursday’s loss to Miami (Twitter links via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press and Hunter Patterson of The Athletic). Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that LeVert’s injury, which has kept him on the shelf for the past two games, is one they’ve been managing all season and that it “flared up on him” this week. As for Harris, Bickerstaff suggested he would have more info on the forward’s prognosis within the next few days.

Amick’s Latest: AD, Kuminga, Warriors, Hawks, Trae, Bucks, MPJ, Clippers

December 31st, 2025 at 10:05am CST by Luke Adams

Although team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that the Warriors haven’t fully closed the door on the possibility of pursuing a trade for Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, Amick also hears from club sources that Golden State is “staunchly” opposed to the idea of trading Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green.

The Mavericks do have some interest in Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, a league source tells Amick. But given that Golden State is operating right up against the second tax apron and Davis is earning $54MM+ this season, it would be nearly impossible to trade for the Warriors to acquire AD without an outgoing salary bigger than Kuminga’s $22.5MM.

Amick adds that it was the Mavericks, not the Warriors, who instigated discussions about the possibility of the two teams making a Davis trade, so it’s not as if Golden State was actively looking for a way to make it work.

Focusing on a handful of teams who look like they need to make a trade, Amick shares several more items of interest in his latest story for The Athletic. Here are more highlights:

Following up on rumors linking Davis to the Hawks, Amick says sources in Atlanta have “pushed back hard” on the idea that the team would be willing to send 2024’s first overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, to the Mavericks in a deal for the veteran big man. Dallas is known to be seeking young prospects and expiring contracts in return for Davis, but Hawks officials remain bullish on Risacher’s long-term potential based on his second-half performance in 2024/25, Amick explains.
The Hawks appear more open than ever to talking to teams about a potential Trae Young trade, but the veteran guard’s market seems to be limited, according to Amick, who suggests that Atlanta might need to wait until the summer to resolve Young’s situation. “Trae is an extremely difficult player to win at the highest level with,” one rival scout said, explaining why a market for the four-time All-Star hasn’t materialized.
League sources who spoke to Amick added Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. to the growing list of potential trade targets on the Bucks‘ radar. Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk are among the other players who have been cited as possible options for Milwaukee.
Despite a very slow start to the season, the Clippers have no plans to sell off veterans and would actually prefer to add an impact player to complement James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, league sources tell Amick. L.A. has been surging as of late, with five consecutive wins, and there have been no signs that Harden is seeking a change of scenery, Amick notes, adding that the Clippers still hope to maintain cap flexibility for the summer of 2027 and will be hesitant to take on any contracts that run beyond that.

Kristaps Porzingis Ready For Action After 10-Game Absence

December 30th, 2025 at 8:04pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kristaps Porzingis is not on the Hawks’ injury report for Wednesday’s game against the Timberwolves, Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks tweets.

Porzingis has been out for 10 games due to an unspecified illness. Overall, he has missed 14 of the past 15 contests with the ailment.

After his lone game earlier this month, Porzingis admitted he was frustrated by the illness, which he said wasn’t related to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the condition he was diagnosed with after missing extended time in 2024/25 while a member of the Celtics.

Porzingis, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign an extension before then, has been very productive when available in his first season with Atlanta, averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 blocks on .497/.364/.855 shooting in a career-low 25.9 minutes per contest.

His return should give the reeling Hawks, currently saddled with a 15-19 record, a much-needed spark. Atlanta has lost seven straight and its defense has generally been a no-show. The Hawks have given up 126 or more points in each of their last nine losses and ranks 23rd in defensive field goal percentage at 47.9%.

A strong return by Porzingis could also have other implications. The Hawks have been prominently linked to Mavericks big man Anthony Davis and Porzingis’ $30.7MM expiring contract would be a likely component to match salaries. Even if the Hawks don’t acquire Davis, Porzingis’ contract could be one of the more attractive assets on the trade market in the coming weeks.

Jalen Johnson, who missed Monday’s loss to Oklahoma City due to an illness, is also off the injury report while Trae Young is questionable due to a right quad contusion.

Latest On Anthony Davis, Trae Young

December 29th, 2025 at 5:50pm CST by Rory Maher

Atlanta is viewed as a “real-deal suitor” for Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack post. Chris Haynes reported on Saturday morning that the Hawks remain “very intrigued” by the possibility of acquiring Davis, whom the team has been linked to for multiple weeks.

However, there are several complicating factors that could prevent a potential trade from coming together.

While Haynes reported that Trae Young would not be included in an outgoing package for Davis, Stein suggests the four-time All-Star point guard might have to be sent elsewhere to make a deal work for financial reasons. The Hawks are not known for being big spenders, Stein observes, and having Young ($48.97MM player option) and Davis ($58.46MM) under contract at the same time in 2026/27 would make the roster prohibitively expensive.

Like many other reporters, Stein hears Davis is expected to seek a lucrative long-term extension once he becomes eligible to sign one in August, whether he stays with Dallas or is moved to another team.

According to Stein, there’s a “growing belief” around the NBA that the Hawks are open to moving Young, but whether they’d actually be able to find a suitable deal for him remains to be seen. As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported a couple weeks ago, rival executives think Young may end up having to exercise that player option, which doesn’t exactly point to a robust free agent or trade market.

Stein isn’t the only reporter to hear Atlanta could be looking to trade Young. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said something similar on Monday’s Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip to Doric Sam of Bleacher Report).

“The Hawks certainly are indicating that they’re looking for the exit ramp with Trae Young,” MacMahon said. “They did not make any attempt to get him signed to an extension. When that’s the case with your face of the franchise, that’s a pretty clear message that the end could be near.”

MacMahon pointed to Ja Morant (Grizzlies) and LaMelo Ball (Hornets) as two other maximum-salaried point guards who are in similar situations as the Hawks and Young.

“If there is an attempt to trade these guys, it’s not going to be easy,” MacMahon said. “There’s not going to be some wide array of teams raising their hand and trying to get in on the bidding, and I’m not sure if you’re even gonna be able to make a trade that’s going to bring value in return.”

The Mavericks also already have Kyrie Irving in the backcourt, and while he’s still recovering from a torn ACL, it would make zero sense to pair him with a small, ball-dominant, defense-deficient guard like Young.

As for who the Hawks could send out for Davis, Stein says the team appears to be willing to part with 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher under the right circumstances, and points to the expiring contracts of Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard as salary-matching pieces. But it’s unclear if Atlanta would be willing to offer draft compensation — or if Dallas would be interested in that proposal.

According to Stein, Hawks forward Jalen Johnson and the 2026 first-round pick Atlanta controls (the more favorable of the Pelicans’ and Bucks’ selections) are viewed as off-limits in any trade talks.

It’s also unclear how willing the Mavericks are to make an in-season deal involving Davis, as Stein hears governor Patrick Dumont is among a group of key executives who would like to see Irving, Davis and Cooper Flagg play together before making another major trade. Waiting until the offseason could be the prudent choice, depending on the types of offers the Mavs receive, Stein writes.

Haynes reported that the Warriors are considering making a run at Davis. According to Stein, while Golden State has a “longstanding fondness” for the 10-time All-Star, the team has reservations about his contract and lengthy injury history and doesn’t appear to be actively pursuing him.

As Stein notes, Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green would have to be included in a possible Davis deal for matching purposes, which is one reason why a trade looks unlikely at this time.

Stein continues to hear the Warriors are looking for the “best possible” deal centered around Jonathan Kuminga‘s $22.5MM contract once the fifth-year forward becomes trade-eligible on January 15.

The Hawks have gone 0-6 since Young returned to action earlier this month (he appeared in five of those games). He will miss Monday’s contest at Oklahoma City due to a right quad contusion, tweets Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks. Johnson is also out with an illness.

Hawks ‘Intrigued’ By Possibility Of Acquiring Anthony Davis

December 27th, 2025 at 9:37am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Hawks remain “very intrigued” by the possibility of acquiring Mavericks big man Anthony Davis in a trade, insider Chris Haynes reported during an ‘NBA on Prime’ broadcast (Twitter video link; hat tip to Real GM).

Haynes indicated that a potential deal involving the Hawks would not include Trae Young, who could become a free agent after the season if he declines his $49MM option. Instead, the package for Davis could include 2024 top pick Zaccharie Risacher.

“Dallas would likely want expiring deals, young assets, and picks – and probably, likely to include number one pick from last season Zach Risacher,” Haynes said.

If Young and his $46MM salary isn’t part of the potential deal, Kristaps Porzingis‘ $30.7MM expiring contract would be a necessary component.

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reported earlier this week that the Hawks had checked in on Davis. However, Siegel also reported that there has been no momentum in those talks and there was a sense that Atlanta is more likely to target a lower-salary replacement if the team builds a deal around Porzingis‘ expiring contract.

Adding Davis would be an “all-in” move for the Hawks, considering his contract numbers. He’s making $54.1MM this season and $58.5MM next season. Davis also holds a player option of $62.8MM for the 2027/28 season.

Haynes added that a team acquiring Davis would likely have to sign him to a contract extension. That would involve significant risk, considering the big man’s injury history. He’s currently dealing with a mild right groin strain.

Davis has only appeared in 16 games this season and, outside of his 76 regular season appearances with the Lakers in 2023/24, hasn’t seen action in more than 62 games in a season since 2018/19.

Davis would significantly boost the Hawks’ defense. Atlanta has fallen below .500 at 15-17 during its current five-game slide. The Hawks have allowed 126 or more points in their last seven losses. They have allowed opponents to shoot 47.8% from the field this season, ranking 23rd in the league in that category.

Trae Young To Return On Thursday

December 18th, 2025 at 2:58pm CST by Luke Adams

December 18: Young will make his return on Thursday vs. the Hornets, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

December 17: Hawks guard Trae Young has been listed as questionable for Thursday’s game in Charlotte, according to the team (Twitter link), and has a chance to play for the first time since October 29.

Young went down with a right knee injury in Atlanta’s fifth game of the regular season and was later diagnosed with a sprained MCL. He has been sidelined for 22 contests since then and will no longer be eligible for end-of-season awards, including All-NBA, since he won’t be able to meet the 65-game threshold.

In his four full games prior to the injury, Young averaged 20.8 points and 9.5 assists per contest, but was struggling with his shot, knocking down just 36.4% of his field goal attempts, including 5-of-26 three-pointers (19.2%).

The Hawks have been playing pretty well despite missing their top offensive play-maker. Following a 1-3 start, Atlanta has won 14 of 23 games and now holds a 15-12 record. Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Vit Krejci are among the players who have taken on additional ball-handling responsibilities with Young unavailable.

Young practiced with the College Park Skyhawks (Atlanta’s G League affiliate) on Tuesday and with the Hawks on Wednesday, an indication that his return was close. If he’s not cleared to play on Thursday vs. the Hornets, his next opportunity will be on Friday when the Hawks return home to host San Antonio.

There has been some recent trade speculation about Young, who could become a free agent next summer if he declines his 2026/27 option worth nearly $49MM, but ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reported that the Hawks are hopeful the guard’s return will “elevate” a team that has held its own without him.

Hawks Notes: Young, Porzingis, Draft, Jones

December 18th, 2025 at 10:14am CST by Luke Adams

Rival executives who have spoken to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype believe that Hawks guard Trae Young may end up having to exercise his $49MM player option for the 2026/27 season.

Young has the ability to reach unrestricted free agency by declining that option next summer. He could also sign an extension with the Hawks at any time that eliminates the option and replaces it with a new contract. However, Atlanta hasn’t pursued a deal with Young to this point and the veteran point guard has been limited to five appearances so far this season due to a knee injury.

Young appears to be on the verge of returning to action, and the Hawks are looking forward to seeing him play with the current group to assess what they have, Scotto writes. A strong finish to the season would put the 27-year-old in a better position to opt out next summer in search of a long-term deal.

Here’s more on the Hawks:

Although his availability has been inconsistent due to ongoing health issues, Kristaps Porzingis is still considered a valuable trade chip due to his $30.7MM expiring contract, according to Scotto, who confirms that Atlanta is expected to gauge the market for Porzingis in search of a possible upgrade. The Hawks reportedly have an eye on Anthony Davis, but their interest is described as “exploratory,” as we relayed earlier today.
If no appealing options materialize on the trade market, the Hawks would be content to continue developing their young core this season and adding to that core in June with what figures to be a high draft pick, Scotto writes. Confirming previous reporting from Jake Fischer, Scotto adds that Atlanta isn’t expected to seriously consider moving that 2026 first-rounder, which will be the most favorable of the Pelicans’ and Bucks’ picks.
Lester Jones, who formerly served as the Hawks’ senior vice president of financial planning and analysis, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one federal count of wire fraud, writes Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Prosecutors said that Jones embezzled $3.8MM from the team and attempted to cover it up by falsifying financial reports and faking emails. He’s scheduled to be sentenced in March.

Injury Notes: Herro, Jovic, Trae, Magic, Wolves, Dosunmu

December 17th, 2025 at 12:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Tyler Herro (right big toe contusion) is traveling with the Heat on their three-game road trip that begins in Brooklyn on Thursday and hopes to return to action at some point on that trip, but admitted there’s “a lot of swelling” in his toe, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.

Herro, who has missed three of the past four games due to the toe injury, played last Tuesday after taking a Toradol shot, then practiced during the team’s five-day break before being ruled out of Monday’s contest.

“I probably shouldn’t have practiced,” Herro said today. “That kind of like sparked things back up. So I’m just trying to control the swelling and the inflammation, and then from there I can kind of decide what I want to do from there.”

Forward Nikola Jovic, who was diagnosed with a right elbow contusion/laceration after taking a hard fall on Monday, told reporters on Wednesday that he considers himself week-to-week. However, he’s optimistic his absence won’t be a lengthy one and said he was relieved that his injury wasn’t worse.

“I was scared I broke my arm, because I didn’t feel anything and I just saw a lot of blood,” Jovic said. “And they were really scared, too, because I had a pretty deep and a big cut, too. I have stitches now. But it didn’t look good as soon as I went back, because I started feeling my arm. It feels good now. I can’t do a lot of stuff. I can’t really hold stuff right now. But it’s not broken, so I guess that’s the most important thing and I think I’ll be back really soon.”

We have more injury updates from around the NBA:

Hawks guard Trae Young, who has been out since October 29 due to a sprained MCL, appears to be nearing his return. Young was assigned to the G League on Tuesday to practice with the College Park Skyhawks, then recalled on Wednesday for a practice with the NBA squad, according to the team (Twitter links).
Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and Moritz Wagner (ACL recovery) aren’t traveling with the Magic on their four-game Western Conference trip that begins Thursday in Denver, reports Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter links). While the Wagner brothers remain in Orlando to focus on their rehab work, Jalen Suggs (left hip contusion) will join the team on its trip, though head coach Jamahl Mosley said the guard “wasn’t able to go and do much in practice” on Wednesday.
After missing the Timberwolves‘ past two games, star guard Anthony Edwards (right foot injury maintenance) is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s matchup with Memphis (Twitter link). Veteran point guard Mike Conley, meanwhile, has been ruled out for a third straight game due to right Achilles tendinopathy.
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. Cleveland and hopes to be active following a two-game layoff, but both of his thumbs are sprained and taped up, and he has a bone bruise in his right thumb. Those injuries would eventually heal with rest, but Dosunmu intends to play through them, referring to it as a “pain tolerance thing” (Twitter links via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network and Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic).