Report: Los Angeles Lakers Have Discussed Internally About Trading For Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell This Summer

Most of the trade rumors concerning the Hawks leading up to the trade deadline in two weeks have surrounded the possibility of sending guard Dejounte Murray to the Lakers. That has been a hot topic around the NBA for the past couple of weeks, but the Lakers might have their eye on the other Hawks guard.

When talking about what the Lakers might do at the trade deadline, ESPN's Dave McMenamin wrote about how the Lakers might stay put at the trade deadline, but have their eyes on some superstars this summer:

"The Lakers currently have only one future first-round pick available to trade, but starting on the day of the NBA draft, they'll have three: 2031, 2029 and either 2024 or 2025, depending on whether New Orleans chooses to use the 2024 pick it previously received from L.A. or defers it to the next draft.

The Lakers have discussed internally the possibility of packaging three picks, along with players they already have on their books, to pursue a bona fide star, such as Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers or Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, team sources told ESPN."

If the Lakers decide to stay put at the deadline and not make any trades, they could be holding out hope to make a big move in the summer. The Lakers are not going to be able to pull off a move of this caliber now and I doubt they will in the summer, but McMenamin (who covers the Lakers) did bring it up as a possibility.

The Hawks could be reworking a lot of their roster either at the trade deadline or this summer. The pairing of Young and Murray in the backcourt has not worked out and the team is currently 10th in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA and does not seem to be going anywhere this year.

In my opinion, a Young trade is very unlikely. In many reports leading up to this year's trade deadline, Young and forward Jalen Johnson are said to be untouchable According to a report from Jake Fischer at Yahoo Sports

"The Hawks are certainly open for business, with plenty of long-term deals to be moved. Of late, Atlanta has informed numerous teams the only untouchable players on the Hawks’ roster are Young and rising third-year forward Jalen Johnson, sources said. Just watch Johnson’s behind-the-back dribble and flush in transition against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, or his pacing, passing and shooting ability at his size, and you’ll understand why Hawks figures are so bullish on the 22-year-old’s upside at a broad and bouncy 6-9.

Atlanta owes its 2025 first-round selection to San Antonio as part of the haul that landed Murray, so there’s plenty of sense for the Hawks, currently 14-19, to weigh selling some of its veteran contributors, incorporating a lottery pick alongside Young and Johnson, then stepping back toward Atlanta’s bigger goal of competing in the playoffs under head coach Quin Snyder next season. Atlanta has been one of the more active teams on the phones across the league, sources said.

That is why I doubt Young will be traded. He is still a young player with an elite skill set and fits well next to Johnson, who has been one of the most improved players in the NBA this season. He will no doubt be mentioned in rumors though and that is what this is right now. Just a rumor.

Follow Jackson on X here: @jacksoncauell

Follow Hawks coverage on Facebook here: All Hawks