What would the plan look like if the Hawks had to move Trae Young away?

Trae Young is in limbo these days with a $49 million player option for next season, which the Hawks have indirect control over.

No, they don’t control the option, but their reluctance to give him an extension allows them to pivot to budding star Jalen Johnson, who has become the team’s best player.

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Essentially, the Hawks need to ask themselves whether Young is worth the salary slot, or whether they can use him more optimally by further dedicating themselves to Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who was last season’s Most Improved Player.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s evolution isn’t making the situation any easier, as he has exploded this season, averaging 20.3 points while serving as a defensive playmaker alongside Daniels.

So what should the Hawks do? Let’s break it down:

Identify needs and build a plan

So, what type of player should the Hawks target if Young moves on? And by all accounts, the Hawks are willing to facilitate this process themselves.

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The need for a point guard would still be present, but the player will need significant off-ball skills to optimize floor spacing around Johnson.

Given the large contract hold, it also allows Atlanta to look for better bench depth, preferably prioritizing wing depth and 3-point shooting.

Could the Hawks make a play for Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu at third guard, or lean on Naji Marshall of the Dallas Mavericks?

Both would be upgrades that could help propel them into the postseason. It may seem like the Hawks are thinking small, and obviously the level of compensation should far exceed both Dosunmu and Marshall, but the idea that Atlanta doesn’t need a heliocentric leader remains solid.

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Perhaps, then, it becomes a question of direction rather than identifying specific actors.

Assuming Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Daniels are the current core, with the Pelicans’ draft pick added to that pool, the Hawks could focus on the summer of 2026 and beyond instead of chasing a playoff berth this year.

Would they instead be willing to flip Young for a slew of expiring contracts and draft picks, kicking the can down the road a year down the road?

It’s a difficult balance, especially considering the performances of Johnson and Alexander-Walker this season.

But herein lies the potential sacrifice.

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While there are no guarantees that Alexander-Walker will ever have a season like this again, Johnson is confident of developing further. If the Hawks identified the summer of 2026 as their turning point, perhaps they would be willing to risk Alexander-Walker’s season being a one-off and not capitalize on it for the sake of the long-term vision.

Of course, that leaves some open questions regarding one of their children.

The idea of ​​removing Zaccharie Risacher is strange

It has been reported that the Hawks are willing to move on from Zaccharie Risacher, last year’s top pick, due to his lack of development.

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First of all, it’s undeniably true that the 6-foot-9 wing hasn’t developed any further. If anything, he’s regressed and shows some worrying signs of being an NBA enigma.

(Risacher grabs just 2.9 rebounds per game, isn’t a playmaker and maintains only modest scoring efficiency, but he has the physical tools to keep teams enticed for probably a decade.)

Moving Risacher makes sense if the Hawks are looking to win now. But realistically, any attempt to do so would be embarrassing if Young feels like his exit is up in the air.

It would be further embarrassing if they acquired a player like Anthony Davis, who they are apparently interested in, and he becomes unavailable due to immediate injuries, which they have to take into consideration given his history.

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Finally, giving up Risacher in a trade when his value is likely at its lowest is never a smart trade move.

You don’t buy at $9, sell at $4.25 and consider yourself a winner.

His situation could be frustrating for the Hawks, but if they choose to go the long-term route, they have a lot more incentive to keep him, at least until the summer.

Risacher can work with Johnson, and should be able to work with a new super rookie, if Atlanta ends up getting a high pick via New Orleans.

There simply should be no rush to push Risacher out the door.

Which direction should the Hawks choose?

It’s easy to stand outside the window and make calls on behalf of others, but logic dictates patience.

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Johnson turned 24 just 11 days ago, so there’s some runway here to build something without wasting his best years.

Moving Young and shopping him to teams in desperate need of a star could be the right decision, as long as Atlanta secures either young players with a few years left on their rookie contracts, or draft equity as part of the compensation package.

Given that Atlanta is enjoying great contract value from Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu (the duo makes just $30.1 million this year, combining for over 36 points and 10 rebounds per game), they’re in no rush to turn them over either.

In fact, the Hawks have fairly clean books, a stable youth situation and a solid pick coming in a strong draft.

If that’s not enough incentive to at least explore long-term prospects this summer, nothing is.