During a podcast appearance, Trae Young took some time to reflect on what was missing during his Atlanta Hawks tenure.
The Atlanta Hawks decided it was time to end the Trae Young era last season when they sent him to the Washington Wizards in a January trade.
Young's tenure with the Hawks had its moments. He had a lot of personal success, and Atlanta got as far as the Eastern Conference Finals with his help.
But the team was never able to truly get over the hump, and during a recent podcast appearance, Young said he isn't sure if he ever had a teammate capable of drawing double teams during his Hawks stint.
"In Atlanta, I don't know if I've ever had a teammate that can draw double teams. It's something about having a teammate that can draw a double team; if you're getting doubled, you're playing 4-on-3," Young said on the Curious Mike podcast.
"That's what I'm looking forward to... That is what's most frustrating and the most exciting part (in Washington)," Young added. "People probably think Steph can't play pick-and-roll, but he's had Draymond Green."
Young Believes Wizards Have More Offensive Threats
Young also said during the podcast appearance that his Wizards currently have three players capable of drawing double teams. He mentioned veteran big man Anthony Davis and incoming rookie AJ Dybantsa.
Davis is set to become the most accomplished teammate that Young will have played with to this point in his NBA career. When healthy and at his best, Davis is a dominant force. He is a 10-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selectee. Even though he owes those accolades partly to his defensive dominance, he can also do damage on the offensive end.
The big man has averaged 24.0 points per game across 14 seasons in the NBA. While his production took a hit during his failed Dallas Mavericks tenure, which saw him take the floor just 29 times, he will have a chance to bounce back with Washington.
Dybantsa, meanwhile, comes into the league as an exciting rookie but will need to prove himself in the NBA. The No. 1 overall pick had an incredible one-and-done season at BYU, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
Hawks Had Talent Around Young, but Fit Was an Issue
Young did play with some talented teammates during his Hawks tenure, including one-time All-Star Dejounte Murray and rising star Jalen Johnson. But he and Murray weren't a strong fit alongside one another, and Johnson's breakout really took full effect last season when Young was hardly in the picture for Atlanta.
The Hawks are now building around Johnson, and the Wizards are hoping their new-look group will put them back in the playoff conversation in the Eastern Conference after several years of misery.
Young Will Face Former Team This Season
The two teams will play each other numerous times this season, which will mark Young's first time taking the floor against his former squad. He has made it clear that he cares about his legacy with Atlanta, but his recent comments may give some of his old teammates a little extra motivation in their matchups this season.
