Trae Trouble: Trade Hawks Star, Bet Bucks & Suns?

Trae Trouble in Atlanta: Time to Cash Out?

The Atlanta Hawks are in a full-blown identity crisis. They're losing games, fans are frustrated, and now Trae Young is under the microscope. The numbers don’t lie—Atlanta actually has a better win percentage when Trae doesn't play. That's not the resume of someone you want to back with a max contract. Defensively, he's a turnstile. Offensively, his shot has been missing more than hitting. And while his trade value might not be sky-high right now, it’s still the perfect time for the Hawks to explore what they can get in return.

From a betting perspective, the Hawks are a hard pass until they figure out who they are without Trae. If he’s out or traded, don’t be shocked if the defense suddenly spikes and the team becomes more competitive. If you're looking to fade drama and inconsistency, Atlanta unders and opponent spreads might be the way to go.

Bucks & Suns: Two Teams You Can Bank On

Let’s talk about the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns—two squads giving bettors reasons to smile. Milwaukee gets Giannis Antetokounmpo back, and he’s already back to windmill dunking like he’s in a 2K demo reel. The Bucks face Charlotte, a team that’s basically a basketball hospice at this point. The Hornets defense is as soft as microwave ice cream, meaning Giannis should absolutely feast in the paint. The Bucks team total over 227.5 is a tasty play, and the full game over looks solid too.

Meanwhile, the Suns are in revenge mode against the Washington Wizards. Phoenix traded Bradley Beal to get tougher, and now they’re looking to remind the Wizards exactly what they gave up. The Suns have been covering spreads at a scary-good rate, and Washington is a hot mess on back-to-backs. A double-digit spread (Suns -10.5) might seem steep, but Phoenix is built to dominate this matchup. Consider laying the points or parlaying the Suns ML with the over (233.5) for a juicy payout.

Bettors Beware: Warriors, Wolves, and Cavs Are Shaky

Golden State is a mess. The Warriors just lost in overtime, they’re floating Anthony Davis trade rumors, and their rotation is about as stable as a Jenga tower in an earthquake. Laying points with Golden State right now? That’s a no-go. Brooklyn, on the other hand, has the best defensive efficiency in December and looks like a team on the rise. Getting the Nets as home dogs is a solid play.

Minnesota, despite their top-tier talent, can’t be trusted to cover spreads on the road—especially laying six or more. They're 9-17 as favorites this season. They're facing a frisky Bulls team that loves hovering around .500 and just snapped a win streak. Betting against the Wolves as road favorites feels like free money right now.

Then there’s Cleveland. The Cavs are allergic to consistency. They blew a massive lead to the Knicks, and their defense has all the bite of a wet paper towel. Facing San Antonio, who’s looking to bounce back after a brutal loss to Utah, the Cavs could be in trouble. The Spurs are worth a sprinkle on the moneyline, and the over 243.5 looks appetizing—because, well, Cleveland can’t guard anyone.

Other Notables: Raptors, Knicks, and Rockets

The Toronto Raptors might actually be the best bad team in the league. They’re catching 1.5 at home against the Magic, who are without Franz Wagner and likely Jalen Suggs—two key defensive anchors. Orlando’s defense has fallen apart without Suggs, and Toronto usually finds a way to grind out wins at home. Taking the Raptors ML or team total over looks like the sharper side.

In New Orleans, the Pelicans are catching +8.5 at home against the Knicks. New York has been scraping by on the road, playing tight games with little breathing room. With Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson out, the Knicks are thin defensively. Karl-Anthony Towns is set up for a monster game, and New Orleans could sneak a win—or at least a cover.

And don’t sleep on the Houston Rockets. Yes, they’re laying 15.5 points against Indiana, and no, you shouldn't feel great about backing them at that number. Indiana is bad, but Houston isn’t exactly blowing out teams left and right. They just lost outright to the Kings as 12.5-point favorites. The Pacers plus the points is the play here, even if it feels ugly.

Takeaways for Bettors

• Fade the Hawks: Trae Young’s impact is debatable, and Atlanta’s defense improves without him. Until the team sorts itself out, consider betting against them.
• Back Giannis and the Bucks: With Charlotte’s defense MIA, Milwaukee’s team total and full game over are strong bets.
• Ride the Suns: Revenge game, hot ATS streak, and a weak Wizards opponent on a back-to-back make Phoenix a premium pick.
• Don’t Trust the Warriors: Golden State is in a slump, and Brooklyn is surging. Take the Nets plus the points.
• Underdog Love: Bulls, Spurs, and Pacers are all undervalued in their matchups and worth a look on the moneyline or spread.
• Toronto at Home: The Raptors grind out wins at home. With Orlando missing key defenders, Toronto ML or team total over is a savvy move.

Bonus Player Props to Watch

• Karl-Anthony Towns: Over 27.5 points. He’s got no Mitch Rob or Josh Hart to contend with inside. This is his game to dominate.
• Michael Porter Jr.: Over 32.5 points + rebounds. He’s been cleaning the glass and scoring efficiently.
• Davion Mitchell: Over 11.5 rebounds + assists. With Fox potentially out, Davion should get more usage and distribution duties.

That’s your NBA betting primer for the day. Whether you’re fading dysfunction or riding the hot hands, there’s plenty of value on the board. Just remember—bet with your head, not over it, and don’t be afraid to take the ugly dog. That mutt might just win you some money.