Trae Young may have been a polarizing player, but he played a direct role in setting the Atlanta Hawks up for a rewarding future. It's the unfortunate and overlooked truth about the fact that his time in Atlanta has ended after eight memorable seasons.
Young may not have been a structural fit for the lineup by the end of his time with the Hawks, but his impact on the franchise was colossal nevertheless.
Young led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, thus marking the franchise's second trip to the NBA semifinal since 1970. It was the type of peak that will have future franchise historians fondly reminiscing as they tell tales of one of the best seasons Atlanta produced in a span of more than 50 years.