Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Former NBA champions urge Spurs to trade for Trae Young

By Sai Mohan | Last updated 2/15/24

There's been growing chatter that the Spurs could make a run for Trae Young if the Hawks guard becomes available via trade. A pair of former NBA champions, DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo, are thrilled at the prospect of Young teaming up with rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama.

"My dream scenario is if he [Young] can find his way to San Antonio to be with Wemby," Cousins said on his "Bully Ball" podcast. "I think those two guys together would be unreal. I think they’re a duo that… we probably won’t see a duo close to Shaq and Kobe, but I think those guys could be that."

Rondo, meanwhile, would love to see Young in San Antonio but is more concerned about the Hawks' inability to put a winning team around the point guard.

"I think that [Young going to Spurs] would obviously be great in the future, but I want to see him win now," Rondo said. "I want him to get his respect now. But you never know how it plays out. He’s super young, he's got so many years to play this game. Wherever he ends up, I wish him the best."

Earlier this month, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that both the Spurs and the Lakers are expected to pursue Young if Atlanta were to consider parting with its franchise player. Fischer also noted that the belief within the league is that "Young could become available for trade this summer" if the Hawks fail to script a turnaround in the second half of the season.

The Hawks (24-31) are currently clinging onto the 10th seed in the East, a year after suffering a first-round exit in the postseason.

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