Trae Young most underrated player this season?

[StrongLurk]

Hawks had a solid offseason to put some pieces around Trae. He's still not a good defender, but he was a star on offense last year and basically put up 30/9 as a second year player which is crazy.

I think due to the Hawks sucking recently and comparisons to Luka, he has gone under the radar as an NBA talent. This dude looks like a mix between AI and Curry right now and I'm extremely impressed at how easily he adapted to the NBA. Got a lot of skill and talent.

[Bronbron23]

Hawks had a solid offseason to put some pieces around Trae. He's still not a good defender, but he was a star on offense last year and basically put up 30/9 as a second year player which is crazy.

I think due to the Hawks sucking recently and comparisons to Luka, he has gone under the radar as an NBA talent. This dude looks like a mix between AI and Curry right now and I'm extremely impressed at how easily he adapted to the NBA. Got a lot of skill and talent.

He'll be in discussion for mvp. Hawks are making playoffs and he's gonna put up crazy numbers

[ThatCoolKid]

Everyone knew he was a top level offensive talent a la Damian Lillard last season. Hawks were a terrible team last season. You probably just weren't paying attention.

[Rudeboy3]

The season just started and he was an all-star starter last season as a sophomore, he's not underrated

[Marchesk]

The season just started and he was an all-star starter last season as a sophomore, he's not underrated

Everyone on ISH was saying he was an empty stat padder last season, and clearly worse than all the other up and coming stars his age.

[ThatCoolKid]

Everyone on ISH was saying he was an empty stat padder last season, and clearly worse than all the other up and coming stars his age.

I mean he is worse than Luka. He's worse than Tatum too, although its closer. Those things are true.

[StrongLurk]

I mean he is worse than Luka. He's worse than Tatum too, although its closer. Those things are true.

:roll:

See, the bolded is what I mean by underrated. Trae is clearly > Tatum.

[Marchesk]

I mean he is worse than Luka. He's worse than Tatum too, although its closer. Those things are true.

Ja, Zion, Simmons, Booker also?

[ThatCoolKid]

:roll:

See, the bolded is what I mean by underrated. Trae is clearly > Tatum.

The gap on defense is immense. Trae is literally the worse defensive player in the league. I did say it was closer.

[Marchesk]

The gap on defense is immense. Trae is literally the worse defensive player in the league. I did say it was closer.

It's not like Luka is good on defense, and he had a much better supporting cast.

[StrongLurk]

The gap on defense is immense. Trae is literally the worse defensive player in the league. I did say it was closer.

I do agree Trae is not a good defender, but Tatum isn't some great defender. Tatum is above average on D, but Trae is a whole different tier of offensive capabilities. And when it comes to superstars, individual offense and scoring is more important that individual defense.

[falconfan13]

I have been extremely impressed with his hustle on defense so far this preseason and also in the bulls game. I don't know if it's because their are other really good offensive players around him now that lets him take a load off on the offensive side so he can put more effort on the D end now or what. But the effort and work he has done on the defensive side in the 1st 5 games so far has been very noticeable and im really happy to see it from him. He will never be a great defender but hustle and effort can get him to atleast avg. Thats really all i need from him to go along with his elite offensive game.

[ThatCoolKid]

Ja, Zion, Simmons, Booker also?

Trae is better than Ja. I would prefer Trae to Simmons but I do think it is close between the two of them. Trae has been better than Zion thus far but Zion has the higher ceiling. Booker/Trae is a close call not sure one is clearly better than the other.

I would rank those guys as Booker/Trae > Simmons > Zion > Ja.

[Marchesk]

I would rank those guys as Booker/Trae > Simmons > Zion > Ja.

So let's say Trae's ceiling is Curry, with the right teammates. What does that make Zion's? Lebron?

[ThatCoolKid]

Trae is not just not a good defender. He is a prime candidate for worst defender in the league. He's a better offensive player than Tatum by a significant margin. But Tatum can play as a primary offensive option on a legit contender, is a good shooter, and can get to the rim in the playoffs. And is a positive defender in the playoffs who can guard star wings. In the playoffs defense is incredibly important. You think Steph got targeted on the defensive end in the playoffs by Lebron? Trae would have it much worse. You can just wave your hands and say defense doesn't matter, but when the game slows down in the playoffs and every possession matters - Trae is going to hurt his team a lot on that side of the floor.

[ThatCoolKid]

So let's say Trae's ceiling is Curry, with the right teammates. What does that make Zion's? Lebron?

Saying Trae will be as good as Curry is about as realistic as saying Zion will be as good as Lebron. So sure.

[falconfan13]

Trae is not just not a good defender. He is a prime candidate for worst defender in the league. He's a better offensive player than Tatum by a significant margin. But Tatum can play as a primary offensive option on a legit contender, is a good shooter, and can get to the rim in the playoffs. And is a positive defender in the playoffs who can guard star wings. In the playoffs defense is incredibly important. You think Steph got targeted on the defensive end in the playoffs by Lebron? Trae would have it much worse. You can just wave your hands and say defense doesn't matter, but when the game slows down in the playoffs and every possession matters - Trae is going to hurt his team a lot on that side of the floor.


For me that depends if he keeps up the effort im seeing so far this year on defense. If he can then it for sure won't be worst in the nba. Im willing to give him a year or 2 with better players around him and offensive minded guys taking some of the load off him to see how he turns out on defense in the end. If he reverts back to not putting much effort in there then that will limit him big time on how high of a elite player he can rank. I'll also say getting Nate McMillian to help coach him on defense is possibly a big reason why im seeing more effort from him as well and i honestly don't think he is looking bad out there this season like the last 2 seasons. Still early though and alot of games to go i just hope he keeps it up.

[Rudeboy3]

I mean he is worse than Luka. He's worse than Tatum too, although its closer. Those things are true.

I'm sorry but trae is better than tatum, let trae be a boston celtic and Tatum a hawk, the level of media **** slurping trae would be getting would be insane.

[CTbasketball92]

I think people seriously underrate Trae too, at least his ceiling. His being the worst defender in the league is damning. If he can get to neutral he'll be a top 10 player easily. Dame, Kyrie and Steph were able to do that. Trae is one of the best shooters in the league, one of the best passers in the league and one of the best ballhandlers in the league. His first step is quick af and that's why his free throw rate is so high. Hawks will make the playoffs and he'll average 30/9 on 60 TS%>>>>

[ZionDunks]

Isn’t he one of the worst defenders in the league?

[ZionDunks]

Saying Trae will be as good as Curry is about as realistic as saying Zion will be as good as Lebron. So sure.

I see Zion as more of a Lebron type following or Shaq if you were a kid in the 90s but with a game like Barkley’s

[insight]

Trae is not just not a good defender. He is a prime candidate for worst defender in the league. He's a better offensive player than Tatum by a significant margin. But Tatum can play as a primary offensive option on a legit contender, is a good shooter, and can get to the rim in the playoffs. And is a positive defender in the playoffs who can guard star wings. In the playoffs defense is incredibly important. You think Steph got targeted on the defensive end in the playoffs by Lebron? Trae would have it much worse. You can just wave your hands and say defense doesn't matter, but when the game slows down in the playoffs and every possession matters - Trae is going to hurt his team a lot on that side of the floor.

I guarantee you haven't watched the hawks this season and are just advancing a narrative of his first two seasons in the league.
All pre-season and in the bulls game Trae is been much better on defense. Tatum is a great young player, I like him a lot but there is no need to knock Trae to make Tatum look better. Trae's defense is still a weakness but he is playing much better on the defensive end so far this year.

[atljonesbro]

Tatum is not better than Trae. Sweet Jesus could you imagine the hype train if the Celtics or Lakers has a 21 year old average 30/9 on 60ts% in his 2nd year? Offense will always reign supreme on an individual level in the nba. Trae is arguably the best offensive player in the league and has take over potential. Tatum isn’t near Trae offensively. Also like others have said Trae has looked a lot better defensively in the few games we’ve seen. Well see if he can stay motivated