Jeff Teague envisions Trae Young joining Orlando's young core, suggesting a blockbuster trade that could reshape the Eastern Conference landscape.
Trae Young’s future in Atlanta remains unsettled after the Hawks and their four-time All-Star guard failed to agree to an extension before the season. That stalemate has kept Young at the center of leaguewide speculation, even as the franchise insists it is not shopping him.
The uncertainty deepened this week when former Hawks guard and current team scout Jeff Teague floated a hypothetical deal involving the Orlando Magic during an episode of the Club 520 Podcast. Teague emphasized that he wants Young to stay in Atlanta, but said he sees a natural fit if a trade ever became unavoidable.
Teague made his stance clear before offering his hypothetical scenario.
“I don’t want Trae [Young] to leave Atlanta. I like Trae in the A,” Teague said on his morning podcast.
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He then laid out the framework he believes could work for both sides.
“But if he had to leave… I like him in Orlando. If you could get Franz [Wagner] and [Jalen] Suggs, maybe a couple young guys, you might be alright.”
Teague’s suggestion arrives during a turbulent stretch for the franchise. Without a long-term deal in place, the Hawks’ choice to withhold an extension has signaled to some observers that the team is at least open to considering major changes.
Young, 27, has been the face of the organization since 2018 but has never played alongside another All-Star, even while leading Atlanta to a 2021 Eastern Conference finals berth and consistently ranking among the league’s top scorers and playmakers.
A move to Orlando would pair Young with Paolo Banchero in what could become one of the most explosive tandems in the Eastern Conference. The Magic have long lacked a primary creator capable of commanding defenses the way Young does, and Banchero has yet to play with a star-level guard.
The Magic would likely have to part with a significant package to land a player of Young’s stature, and Wagner would headline any such offer. The 24-year-old forward has developed into one of the most versatile young scorers in the league. Last season, he became one of 11 players to average at least 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. His production has increased each year of his career.
In Atlanta, Wagner would gain more freedom to operate as a point forward alongside Jalen Johnson, offering the Hawks a pair of do-it-all wings with long-term upside. With a larger offensive role, Wagner could see his scoring numbers climb even higher.
There is no indication the Hawks are weighing this type of deal, and Young remains under contract as the organization attempts to chart a competitive path forward. But Teague’s comments underscore how closely the league is watching the situation, and how dramatically Atlanta’s direction could shift if it ever decides to explore a trade.