Atlanta destroying the Timberwolves without Tree Young is another strike against him
Wednesday afternoon, Atlanta Hawks ended their ugly seven-game losing streak with a big home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hawks desperately needed a strong performance in this one, and they got it thanks in large part to 34 points and ten rebounds by forward Jaylen Johnson.
Trae Young was out for the second straight game in this one with a leg injury, and the fact that the Hawks played so well without him certainly won’t help much the chatter that was around him and the franchise in recent weeks.
“This Hawks game certainly won’t help Trae Young narratives,” one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“It’s funny how much better the Hawks are without Treo,” added another.
Young was sidelined from late October to late December with a sprained MCL, and the Hawks performed relatively well during that stretch, sitting above the .500 mark by the time Young returned for a recent game against the Charlotte Hornets.
However, the Hawks’ defense has fallen off since then, although it should be noted that it had already started to turn before Young returned to the lineup.
Overall, it’s unclear at this point what a trade for Young would look like given his well-documented limitations and the large contract he’s on, which could make moving him a bit more complicated than a normal player.
Most fans and pundits now see Johnson as the clear face of the franchise moving forward, given his emergence this year, though he’ll also need to improve significantly on the defensive end of the floor to be a viable No. 1 option for opponents.
Either way, the Hawks will next take the floor Friday night when they host the New York Knicks.
2026-01-01 18:26:00
