The Zach Lowe Show The End of the Trae Young Era in Atlanta. Plus, All-Star Predictions!
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Jan 8, 2026 
Rob Mahoney, a basketball writer and analyst, joins to dissect the recent trade of Trae Young to the Wizards. They delve into the implications for both teams, weighing Trae's potential impact against the Hawks' need for salary cap flexibility. The conversation also explores Anthony Davis's fit with Atlanta and the missed opportunities of the past. Shifting gears, they predict the upcoming All-Star rosters, debating key player selections like Devin Booker and outlining MVP candidates, including Jalen Brown's rise.
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Big-name Trades Bring Availability Risk
- Targeting Anthony Davis would trade one durability risk for another, as superstar impact is tempered by availability concerns.
- High salaries and missed games make long-term moves for big contracts increasingly punitive under current rules.
West All-Star No-Brainers And Chet Versus Booker
- Western All-Star picks center on Jokic, Luka, Wembanyama, Curry, Edwards and SGA as no-brainers.
- Zach prefers Chet Holmgren over Devin Booker for a West reserve due to elite defense and efficiency.
Jamal Murray's Case Strengthened Without Jokic
- Jamal Murray's play without Jokic has been steady and deserving of All-Star recognition.
- Zach values two Thunder All-Stars but ultimately favored Chet over Booker for defensive impact.