Hawks’ Trae Young Out vs. Paolo Banchero, Magic With Finger Injury

Erin WalshFebruary 25, 2024

Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic with a left finger injury, the team announced.

The 25-year-old presumably injured his finger in Friday’s 123-121 loss to the Toronto Raptors, though he still played 35 minutes.

Young has been mostly healthy this season, though the Hawks have struggled mightily despite the three-time All-Star’s best efforts and sit 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 24-32 record.

Through 51 games, Young is averaging 26.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 10.8 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.

With Young sidelined for Sunday’s matchup, Patty Mills, Wesley Matthews and Kobe Bufkin could see more playing time alongside Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic in Quin Snyder’s rotation.

With the Hawks on pace to miss the playoffs, Young has found himself included in numerous trade rumors this year.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported earlier this month that there are “several front offices that listened to Atlanta’s pre-deadline chatter and came away from conversations with the Hawks of the belief Trae Young could become available for trade this summer.”

He listed the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs as potential destinations.

NBA insider Marc Stein also reported that the Hawks “know” they need to trade one of Young or Murray during the offseason.

“As another league observer — one well-acquainted with the Hawks’ dynamics — put it to me recently: ‘They know they have to trade one or the other,'” Stein wrote.

If the Hawks do move on from Young this summer, the team’s asking price will likely be high as it aims to build a true championship contender.