A 3-Team Trade to Move Trae Young, Put Lakers Back in Title Contention (2024)

The Atlanta Hawks went all-in when they traded three future first-round picks and a pick swap to the San Antonio Spurs for Dejounte Murray in 2022. Despite that, they failed to make the playoffs this season.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers rode a second-half surge in 2022-23 to make it to the Western Conference Finals. However, they were knocked out in the first round this year.

Both teams could be in for some significant changes this summer, including the possibility of Trae Young winding up on the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

A trade involving only L.A. and Atlanta could be difficult to construct. Luckily, the Toronto Raptors have a big man who'd make a Young trade even more interesting for the Lakers and enough roster spots and cap space to take on the flotsam in a three-team framework.

Before we dive into the specific benefits for each of the teams involved, it's helpful to look at the entire framework of the deal.

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Trae Young and Kelly Olynyk

Los Angeles Lakers Lose: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2028 first-round pick swap, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap, a 2031 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick (via Clippers)

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen McDaniels, a 2028 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles, a 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles and a 2031 first-round pick from Los Angeles

Atlanta Hawks Lose: Trae Young and Garrison Matthews

Toronto Raptors Receive: D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Garrison Mathews, a 2030 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles and a 2025 second-round pick from Los Angeles (via Clippers)

Toronto Raptors Lose: Kelly Olynyk and Jalen McDaniels

As always, feel free to pick at some of the particulars. You may have an issue with a pick or young player here or there, but the general framework and ideas make sense for all three organizations.

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Trae Young and Kelly Olynyk

Los Angeles Lakers Lose: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2028 first-round pick swap, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap, a 2031 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick (via Clippers)

With the Denver Nuggets winning it all last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves knocking the Lakers out in this year's playoffs and the Dallas Mavericks thriving after adding size at February's trade deadline, the long-rumored Young-to-the-Lakers deal may not make as much sense as it did a few months ago. There's a real argument that L.A. should be trying to get bigger, tougher and more defensive-minded this summer.

But as a pure talent play, adding Young to this team is easily justifiable.

Despite the steady stream of criticism that's followed Young for most of his career, he averaged 27.1 points, 9.9 assists and 2.8 threes per game over the last five seasons. He's one of the best and most dynamic offensive engines and pick-and-roll playmakers in the NBA. The Lakers also might feel a bit better about their post-LeBron James with a Young-Anthony Davis duo in place.

The real beauty of this deal is that it would allow L.A. to add star talent while also hardening the team identity a bit.

With his size, passing ability and outside shot, Kelly Olynyk would fit seamlessly on just about any contender, but that's especially true with the Lakers. The 6'11" big would move Davis back to his natural spot at the 4 without sacrificing any floor spacing.

While this deal would cost L.A. a lot in both current and future assets, all-in moves might be necessary to give LeBron one last shot at a fifth title. He played at a top 5-10 level this season, but he turns 40 in December and was nowhere near contention with this season's roster.

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen McDaniels, a 2028 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles, a 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles and a 2031 first-round pick from Los Angeles

Atlanta Hawks Lose: Trae Young and Garrison Matthews

Two years of mediocrity from the ill-fitting backcourt of Murray and Young almost demands a trade of either.

There's a strong case to keep Young, as he's the younger and more traditionally productive guard. But those factors also mean he'd likely command a bigger return in a trade.

This is indeed a big return.

Austin Reaves (who just turned 26 in late May) and Rui Hachimura (who'll turn 27 in February) are starters on the right side of their primes. They'd easily slot alongside Murray, Jalen Johnson and either of Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu. Jarred Vanderbilt just turned 25 and could bring some hustle and rebounding to the second unit, while Jalen McDaniels would be a worthwhile flyer for some wing depth off the bench.

The picks and pick swap here would also help Atlanta recoup some of the draft capital it gave up in the Murray trade. The fact that those picks are so far in the future is a plus, too. The Lakers figure to be competitive for the next few years, but there's no telling where they'll be after LeBron retires and AD is past his prime.

Toronto Raptors Receive: D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Garrison Mathews, a 2030 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles and a 2025 second-round pick from Los Angeles (via Clippers)

Toronto Raptors Lose: Kelly Olynyk and Jalen McDaniels

This might seem weird for the Raptors since they just extended Olynyk after sending out a first-round pick for him at the trade deadline. But that extension might make him a more attractive target for title contenders, and that trade also brought 24-year-old Ochai Agbaji to Toronto.

If Agbaji pans out, turning Olynyk into D'Angelo Russell's expiring contract, a distant pick swap with the Lakers, a second-round pick and the unproven talent of soon-to-be-21-year-old Jalen Hood-Schifino probably improves that original deal's value.

Russell would have to pick up his $18.7 million player option for 2024-25 to facilitate this deal, but Toronto could be a good spot to boost his value ahead of free agency in 2025. He wouldn't be the first option there, but he'd likely get more on-ball opportunities than he did alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves in L.A.

Since the Raptors are leaning into a Scottie Barnes-centric future, Russell could still get plenty of open catch-and-shoot looks alongside Immanuel Quickley, too.

As for Hood-Schifino, he didn't show much for the Lakers as a rookie, but at 6'6" with a 6'10.25" wingspan, he has great size for a guard. His 43.2 three-point percentage in the G-League was encouraging, too. And Toronto should be interested in surrounding Barnes with as much young shooting as possible.