Why trading Luka Doncic was a huge mistake by the Hawks

Celebrated basketball commentator Bill Simmons argued it well: Atlanta trading Euro League sensation and MVP Luka Doncic for point guard Trae Young is a decision the Hawks will quickly regret.  The case is simple— Doncic is the most experienced professional basketball player in the recent NBA draft.

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To be fair with Atlanta, trading the draft right for Young made sense if they were hoping to land a player in the mold of Steph Curry.  The pesky point guard can make huge treys both in transition and coming off picks.  Young is explosive toward the rim and has high basketball IQ.  He is already a complete point guard.

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But the few glimpses of the 6’8” Slovenian sensation Doncic in the preseason games have already shown NBA fans that he fits well with the Mavericks’ system.  Not only is he a great passer for a big man, he can also drain long three-pointers and play multiple positions, from point to power forward.  

It’s not even a case of physicality, as obviously Trae Young is the smaller player.  Doncic is still prone to turnover when guarded upfront or swarmed, but his exquisite passing skill should compensate for that.  He will adjust sooner than most people think and quickly silence the skeptics.  In fact, without even a single game of the new NBA season played, Doncic is already the odds favorite to take the Rookie of the Year title.

Yes, his impact remains to be seen, but experience does go a long way.  The 19-year-old Doncic not only has perhaps the biggest upside among the rookies, but already has the veteran smarts to compete on the biggest stage of pro basketball.

Hi, there. I’m James DeVellis, a student from Arizona studying sports business. I’ve decided to start my own blog and write about sports early. For more insights on the NBA, follow me on Facebook.