Since being drafted in 2018, Trae Young has quickly risen to stardom in the NBA. He’s known for his deep shooting range and sharp playmaking skills, but also for a longstanding beef with the New York Knicks fans that dates back to the 2021 playoffs.
Young and the Atlanta Hawks met the Knicks en route to their Eastern Conference Finals appearance, and the All-Star guard had several moments trolling the Knicks fanbase. It continued during Game 7 of the Western semifinals between the OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets.
Trae Young Takes Shots at New York Knicks Fans
The Nuggets were on the road for Game 7 at the Paycom Center, and with the Thunder crowd being extremely loud throughout the course of the game, Young couldn’t help but compare them with the Knicks fanbase.
“Hot take but not..OKC fans are louder than Knick fans. Happy Sunday,” he wrote on X.
Hot take but not..
OKC fans are louder than Knick fans. Happy Sunday!
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 18, 2025
The Thunder eventually emerged victorious and is now headed to their first Conference Finals since 2016. Also headed to the Conference Finals after a long wait are the Knicks, who defeated the Boston Celtics in six games to advance to their first appearance in the Eastern Finals in over 20 years.
As for Young, who averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists this season, he could end up on the trade block this offseason—especially if the Hawks decide to initiate a full rebuild. While the team managed to stay in the play-in mix despite shedding key players, it felt as though they were already trending in that direction.
Now that the offseason has arrived, the question is: Will Atlanta move on from Young and send him to a team better suited to maximize his talents?
In a recent Substack post, NBA insider Marc Stein linked Young to the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets—two rising squads in need of a true floor general.
Adding Young to Orlando’s core, which includes Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, could elevate the Magic’s offense significantly. While Young’s defense has long been a weakness, Orlando’s team-wide defensive strength could help offset that liability and make the pairing work.
As for the Rockets, while they currently have Fred VanVleet, Young is a more dynamic and consistent offensive weapon. Like Orlando, Houston’s swarming defense could complement Young and provide balance. It could be a win-win fit.
While many Hawks fans still support Young, it’s clear the organization and its franchise star may no longer be on the same page. Young wants to compete for a championship, while the team appears to be prioritizing long-term development.
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Both the Rockets and Magic have young talent with sizable contracts, meaning there’s a path for a potential deal that could bring Atlanta some future assets in return.
Will the Hawks actually trade Trae Young this offseason? Time will tell, but the conversations are heating up.
