What could a KAT trade with the Atlanta Hawks look like?

Are the Atlanta Hawks seriously considering blowing up the backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray? According to Bill Simmons, this is a possibility.

“Some people seem to think these two guys are traded, that’s one thing I’ve heard,” Simmons said on his June 10 podcast, noting that he’s heard that “from different people who don’t don’t know each other and who know things. “.

As we keep mentioning, many signals suggest the Timberwolves are going to “go back” in 2024-25 with largely the same roster, but what if they chose to trade a mega contract like that of four years and 221 million dollars? remains on Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract?

Enter Young and Murray, who can both play point guard and would be long-term answers for a Timberwolves team looking to prepare for life with Mike Conley, who turns 37 next season.

Young in Minnesota? It’s a fanciful idea, but Young is very expensive and the only reason Minnesota might even consider swapping cities is to avoid luxury tax penalties. Towns will make $49 million next season, while Young is set to make $43 million in 2024-25 and $46 million in 2025-26 before he can opt out of his contract and seek even bigger numbers as an agent free.

Young probably doesn’t make much sense, but Murray does because he fills two of the Wolves’ needs/wants: he’s a point guard and he helps Minnesota avoid luxury tax penalties.

Murray, who averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists this season, will earn between $25 million and $29 million over the next three seasons before having a player option in 2027.

FanNation’s All Hawks proposed a three-team trade idea that sends Towns to Atlanta and Murray to Minnesota. The blockbuster allows Minnesota to get Murray and winger Bogdan Bogdanovic, while Towns goes to the Hawks. The Hawks would also get Marcus Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Grizzlies would receive Clint Capela and Sacramento’s 2025 first-round pick (1-12 protected).

Ultimately, the Timberwolves would win big with their long-term answer at the point guard position with Murray accompanied by Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert in the starting lineup, with Conley and Bogdanovic coming off the bench.

In total, the Wolves would send $49 million and take back $42 million (Bogdanovic is owed $17 million next season) for the 2024-25 season. And then for 2025, Murray and Bogdanovic would combine for $43 million, compared to the $53 million Towns is projected to make.

The Hawks would retool with Young and Towns leading a roster that includes the No. 1 pick in this summer’s draft. And the Grizzlies would get a defensive center to pair with Jaren Jackson Jr. and a healthy Ja Morant in what could be a bounce-back season in 2024-25.

Tis the season for speculation and this idea has many benefits for all teams involved.