The Kings reportedly passed on a Trae Young-for-Zach LaVine trade, and Atlanta may be better off with CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert instead.
The latest rumors suggest the Sacramento Kings turned down a trade that would have flipped former Atlanta Hawks superstar guard Trae Young for scoring guard Zach LaVine.
The Hawks are lucky that they did.
For some fans, that will feel wrong. The Hawks ultimately flipped Young for veteran guard CJ McCollum and wing Corey Kispert. The consensus would likely hold that LaVine is the best player in that group.
Hawks Dodged a Bullet With LaVine
In discussing trades, we can't only look at player quality. We also need to consider contractual matters.
That's where the Hawks are better off without LaVine.
In 2026-27, LaVine will make $48.9 million. It's a hefty sum for his services. LaVine remains a talented scorer, having averaged 19.2 points per game with a 61.4% True Shooting mark. That said, he's long been accused of being an empty-calorie scorer.
LaVine averaged just 2.3 assists per game last year, and he's never been much of a defender.
None of which means he's not a better player than McCollum or, perhaps obviously, Kispert. In McCollum's case, it's debatable.
The point is that LaVine is on an expiring contract, and the Hawks should not have been eager to offer him his next deal.
This summer, McCollum signed a one-year, $21 million deal. At 34, that's a good deal for both sides, but at 31, LaVine is likely to be in pursuit of one more long-term NBA contract.
Let some other team give it to him.
Hawks Are Better Off With McCollum Than LaVine
Moreover, LaVine has been on the fringe of stardom for a few years. McCollum is past that time in his career, and that makes more sense for the Hawks.
Would guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker have had a breakout 2025-26 season with LaVine on the roster? Wouldn't LaVine have absorbed his shots and touches?
Lastly, if McCollum is better than LaVine in any area, it's playmaking. He's a more suitable veteran for a Hawks squad that is generally trying to lean on its younger players to drive success.
If this feels like a hit piece on LaVine, it was not designed to feel that way. As with many NBA players, he's complicated. LaVine is a talented player, but he's not right for the Hawks in the short or long term.
The return for Young was widely panned. To be sure, it was modest.
Hawks fans wanted more for their franchise player, but LaVine would not have been the answer.
