Trae Young has never exactly been welcomed in New York, at least not by Knicks fans. Every time he walks into Madison Square Garden, the boos rain down like clockwork. And every time, he gives them a reason to keep booing. But what if this summer, he gave them something else? What if he moved in, not to the Garden, but just across the bridge? Not in orange and blue. In black and white. Brooklyn black and white.
Sam Vecenie on the Game Theory Podcast pointed out that the Nets could be the only real suitor for Young. At just 26, Young is already a four-time All-Star and one of the league’s most electrifying playmakers. He averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists this season (the highest assist average this past regular season), and while his Atlanta Hawks have not made it past the first round since that magical 2021 playoff run, there is no denying that Young is built for the big stage. And Brooklyn? Well, the truth is they could use a star like him.
But let’s not get carried away just yet. This idea has a catch…
The Nets already have Cam Thomas, who is an offensive spark plug in his own right. Pairing him with Young could create one of the league’s most lethal scoring duos, but defensively, it could be a disaster. We are talking about two players with major defensive liabilities. Unless Brooklyn pulls off a trade to land a couple of solid wing defenders, or hit on some great defensive gems in the upcoming draft, those two together might be a nightmare for head coach Jordi Fernandez.
But that issue can be easily solved because that is where Cam Thomas’ impending restricted free agency comes into play. Thomas could be packaged in a sign-and-trade deal to bring Young to Brooklyn, or their general manager Sean Marks could look for another trade partner to free up cap space and draft assets. Either way, the move could work.
Brooklyn’s also been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo in the past, but it seems that dream is fading fast. Giannis is likely staying in Milwaukee, but that should not be the end of the world for the Nets. Trae Young, while not the 7-footer Brooklyn fans may have imagined, is a perfect alternative, and honestly a more realistic one.
Think about it for a moment
Brooklyn has the assets, and the need for a point guard to lead them into the future. Trae Young fits the bill perfectly. At the ened of the day, Trae might not be able to fix every problem, but if Brooklyn pulls this off, it could be the first step toward something big.