Why Trae Young and flawed stars like him are so difficult to build around
The Atlanta Hawks find themselves trapped in a familiar, frustrating purgatory. As the January 2026 trade deadline approaches, the organization is reportedly intensifying efforts to find a new home for Trae Young. With the team languishing at 17-21 and sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, the discourse has shifted from "how do we maximize Trae?" to a more damning question: "Is it possible to build a championship contender around a star this fundamentally flawed?"
The allure of the "heliocentric" creator is undeniable. Young remains arguably the NBA's premier ball-screen passer, a one-man offensive engine capable of dragging a mediocre unit to respectability. However, the last two seasons have exposed the rigid ceiling of this archetype. While Young posted elite efficiency numbers from 2020 to 2024, his production has stagnated, with his true shooting percentage dipping to 2 percent below the league average over the last two campaigns. When the hyper-efficient scoring wanes, the structural costs of his game become impossible to ignore.
Building around a 6-foot-1 guard who offers negligible defensive resistance requires a roster straitjacket. To compete for a title, the surrounding four players must be elite, versatile defenders who can also space the floor—a "3-and-D" player profile that is the most expensive and scarce commodity in the league. Furthermore, Young’s refusal to evolve his off-ball game exacerbates the issue. Unlike Stephen Curry, who creates chaos with constant movement, Young tends to drift aimlessly along the perimeter when the ball isn't in his hands, effectively allowing defenses to rest.
This dilemma extends beyond Atlanta; it serves as a case study for any franchise seduced by high-usage, one-way talent. Whether it’s the Washington Wizards—currently rumored to be a potential landing spot in a deal involving CJ McCollum’s expiring contract—or another desperate suitor, the acquiring team inherits the same expensive puzzle. You secure the dazzling assists and the logo threes, but you also inherit the defensive scrambling and roster inflexibility. As the Hawks look to finally pivot, the lesson for the league is clear: in the modern NBA, a superstar’s inability to adapt is the one flaw you cannot build around.
The allure of the "heliocentric" creator is undeniable. Young remains arguably the NBA's premier ball-screen passer, a one-man offensive engine capable of dragging a mediocre unit to respectability. However, the last two seasons have exposed the rigid ceiling of this archetype. While Young posted elite efficiency numbers from 2020 to 2024, his production has stagnated, with his true shooting percentage dipping to 2 percent below the league average over the last two campaigns. When the hyper-efficient scoring wanes, the structural costs of his game become impossible to ignore.
Building around a 6-foot-1 guard who offers negligible defensive resistance requires a roster straitjacket. To compete for a title, the surrounding four players must be elite, versatile defenders who can also space the floor—a "3-and-D" player profile that is the most expensive and scarce commodity in the league. Furthermore, Young’s refusal to evolve his off-ball game exacerbates the issue. Unlike Stephen Curry, who creates chaos with constant movement, Young tends to drift aimlessly along the perimeter when the ball isn't in his hands, effectively allowing defenses to rest.
This dilemma extends beyond Atlanta; it serves as a case study for any franchise seduced by high-usage, one-way talent. Whether it’s the Washington Wizards—currently rumored to be a potential landing spot in a deal involving CJ McCollum’s expiring contract—or another desperate suitor, the acquiring team inherits the same expensive puzzle. You secure the dazzling assists and the logo threes, but you also inherit the defensive scrambling and roster inflexibility. As the Hawks look to finally pivot, the lesson for the league is clear: in the modern NBA, a superstar’s inability to adapt is the one flaw you cannot build around.
