“Who’s the owner, he got money?”: Gilbert Arenas mocks Trae Young’s wish to win a title with Hawks
Gilbert Arenas didn't hold back from roasting the Atlanta Hawks after Trae Young suggested that he wanted to win a championship with the franchise. On Arenas' podcast, "Gil's Arena," Young claimed he would get respect once he brings title success to the Hawks.
Arenas had doubts about the two-time All-Star winning in Atlanta.
"You're gonna do that in Atlanta? Nah I'm just saying, who's the owner, he got money? You know they gotta pay! You gotta pay to get to championships."
The Atlanta Hawks have struggled to land prominent players or keep the ones they have for the long haul. Their fanbase is not as big as other franchises with an even smaller market. The team was within touching distance of an NBA Finals appearance two years ago, but it suddenly entered a cost-cutting spree.
It started with the departure of John Collins, who was part of its young core that reached the conference finals in 2021. The Hawks haven't done much to replace him yet and are also looking at potentially trading Clint Capela and De'Andre Hunter.
After trading Collins, it extended Dejounte Murray to a four-year, $120 million contract, despite a lack of evidence that he could form a lethal duo alongside Trae Young.
Trae Young could seek a move shortly if Atlanta Hawks struggle to surround him with the right pieces
Superstars leaving their franchises in hopes of title success is not an anomaly anymore. The Atlanta Hawks need to be wary of that. Regardless of the relationship a franchise and its fans may have with a player, the aspirations of winning can change things quickly.
Trae Young could find himself in that situation if the Hawks struggle to surround him with the right pieces.
He remains optimistic for now, hoping his pairing with Murray works next year with an entire season under recent head coaching hiring Quin Snyder. The Hawks' results at the end of the upcoming season will significantly impact the team's plans going forward.