There have been several rumors about trades involving the Atlanta Hawks, specifically about their star guard Trae Young. In an exclusive interview with Heavy Sports, Taylor Rooks and Joy Taylor talked about Young’s future, their successful podcast, and partnership with Rocket Mortgage.
Rooks, who is from Atlanta, expressed that it was “heartbreaking” to watch the Hawks’ 15-point loss to the Chicago Bulls that led to their elimination. Young’s future is closely linked to Dejounte Murray as well.
“In terms of what they should do in the offseason, I am a big supporter of every player finding the right situation for them,” Rooks told Heavy Sports in an interview on April 18, 2024. “I believe that if Trae and the Hawks have a conversation and feel that this situation isn't working, considering the great year we had in 2021 when we made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.”
“But I think that Hawks fans are trying to figure out what the missing piece is. Is the piece missing or does it need to be swapped out?” Rooks wondered. “Whatever it is, I think that Hawks fans really took a liking to Dejounte. Dejounte was able to step up a lot when Trae was injured. The team was able to find their rhythm in many ways.”
Taylor Rooks on Trae Young: ‘He Has Been a Great Representative of Atlanta’
One thing that is difficult to measure is how Young has embraced the city of Atlanta. The Hawks would not only be losing their star player, but also someone who has been embraced by the city.
“But I am definitely a fan of Trae,” Rooks added. “I vividly remember when he was drafted to Atlanta, and that whole night was chaotic with the Luka Doncic trade, etc. But I was really happy that we ended up with Trae, and he has been a great representative of Atlanta. So, I hope everything works out for him.”
Hawks Rumors: The NBA Is Abuzz with Speculation That Atlanta Will Explore Trades for Trae Young
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is speculation in the league that Atlanta will consider potential trades for Young, but it is unclear what the Hawks could get in return.
“The leaguewide expectation is now even stronger, two months after my article, that the Hawks will try to trade Young or Murray this offseason,” Stein wrote in a story on April 20 with the headline, “The NBA playoffs are here … and so is my around-the-league latest Intel.” “You could also say that there is a growing belief in many parts of the league that Atlanta’s preference would actually be to shop Young.
“The challenge there, of course, is that Young would not enter the trade market at his peak value if Atlanta decides to seriously consider trading him.”
Joy Taylor & Taylor Rooks Are Teamming Up With Rocket Mortgage to Help Raise Money During the NFL Draft
Rooks and Taylor also talked about their collaboration with Rocket Mortgage before the NFL draft for their “Dreammate” campaign. The media personalities have relied on their friendship to launch the successful “Two Personal” podcast. Now, the pair wants to continue promoting home ownership.
Every time the hashtag #RocketDreammate is used on TikTok or Instagram from now until the end of the NFL Draft on April 27, Rocket Mortgage will donate $10 to Habitat for Humanity, with a maximum donation of $250,000. This contribution will help make the dream of homeownership a reality for Americans all over the country.
“It’s truly amazing to give back to the community,” Taylor said. “The main goal of the campaign is to show that you are not alone.
“You don’t achieve success by yourself. You do have support and Rocket Mortgage wants to be a Dreammate for people who are entering the home buying process, and to support them throughout that,” Taylor added. “Which can be a very intimidating experience. So, it’s a campaign that really resonates with us in many ways, and it was really enjoyable to film with my best friend.”
