Trae Young is back on the court with the Skyhawks, showcasing his game. His return to the Hawks is now just a matter of time.
Hawks fans won't have to wait much longer to see their franchise player hit the floor.
On October 29th, Trae Young suffered an awkward fall against the Brooklyn Nets. He was removed from the game and later revealed to have sprained his right MCL.
The initial re-evaluation date was one month after he suffered the injury. When that day came, it was determined that they would continue to monitor his recovery for an additional two weeks.
After the additional recovery period, the Atlanta Hawks announced Saturday that Young would return to practice next week.
Well, stage one of his return plan is underway. The team announced Tuesday that Young has been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta's G League affiliate.
Not long after the announcement, Young took part in a full practice with the Skyhawks. According to AJC's Lauren Williams, "Young looked pretty good, shifty and got up for a couple of blocks."
His run with the Skyhawks, however, may not last much longer. If he continues to impress in practice, the team will call him back up in no time.
The Hawks have the next two nights off, but then return to action Thursday for the first game of a back-to-back.
Atlanta will face the Charlotte Hornets on the road before returning home for a battle against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
It's unlikely Young will be on the floor for either of these games, but crazier things have happened.
He could be medically cleared before Friday's home game, but bringing him back for a matchup against one of the most talented squads in the Western Conference could prove to be unwise.
Instead the Hawks should, and likely will, be patient with Young. The team clearly misses his presence on the court, but rushing him back would come with immense risk.
In just five games with the Hawks this season, Young is averaging 17.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game on 37.1% from the field and 19.2% from deep.
While those numbers are career-lows, context matters. There has not been nearly enough of a sample size to determine how the 4-time All-Star's season has gone.
When he returns to action, he will have to adjust to Atlanta's new-look lineup. The adjustment period was supposed to take place in the first month of the season, but when Young went down with his injury, the timeline saw a major shift.
Hawks fans should be excited about Young's return. This roster has an unlimited ceiling at full-strength, and getting their floor general back should make things a whole lot easier on the offensive end.