With the departure of Trae Young from the Hawks for a very cheap price, small PGs are starting to become even less valued in today’s NBA. Despite Trae Young’s consistent production, the team has not turned it around into wins. Coming into the season, the Hawks emphasized putting Young around big, athletic wings who can space the floor and defend. However, after Trae went down, the emergence of Jalen Johnson and the team’s subsequent winning stretch prompted both fans and management to look to offload Trae.
The Package
With the first trade of the ’25-’26 NBA season, the Hawks decided to offload prominent Franchise Point Guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, a young, rebuilding squad that is in no hurry to win games. In return, the Wizards sent aging complementary Guard CJ McCollum and volume shooter Corey Kispert with no draft compensation attached. Not only does this transaction suggest a lack of market for Young, but it also suggests the complete lack of value that the former All-Star commands in today’s NBA. A former top 5 pick, All-NBA player, and 4x All Star, Young’s offensive production has not taken a super big hit as this trade would suggest. The problem lies in Young’s defensive capabilities
Trae Young’s Defensive Woes
Trae Young has always been one of the league’s premier offensive talents; however, his defensive woes have repeatedly been the topic of conversation. Last season, among all qualified players, Trae Young ranked last in Defensive Box Plus Minus, at a -2.7, while his career mark sits at a -2.3. Trae Young is, by many metrics, one of, if not the single worst defender in the NBA, and has been over the past couple years. Basketball is not just an offensive game, and Young’s defense provides a whole new perspective on what could have caused this trade and massive decline in value.
What does this mean for other small guards?
This trade suggests that the NBA is putting an even smaller leash on small guards like Young. As guards and ball handlers grow more and more height-wise and athletically, small guards similar to Young have to be at the top of their game to play a role in this league. This sentiment extends to other players like Ja Morant, who has pretty much requested a trade out of Memphis, despite not adding much on the defensive end and possibly being the worst shooting guard in the league today. The Grizzlies are also not expected to get much back in the form of draft compensation for Ja, as he, too, looks to have little to no value as of right now. Of course, the NBA changes, and perhaps small guards can be back in the spotlight in the near future. However, as of now, all signs point to the value of small guards plummeting.
