Despite his flaws, Trae Young's passing could make him a superstar

Atlanta Hawks rookie point guard Trae Young is unquestionably the most polarizing prospect from the 2018 draft class.

On one hand, the pint-sized scorer is an obvious defensive liability and has a proclivity for pulling up from 35 feet. His offensive shortcomings were on full display during summer league, where Young shot a dismal 3-of-24 from deep over his first three games.

But the 19-year-old also displayed an undeniable gift for playmaking in those contests, averaging 6.8 assists in just 25.4 minutes per game - a fitting stat line for someone who wants to play more like Steve Nash than Steph Curry. And while it will always be the looooong 3-pointers that grab headlines, Young's playmaking is what will ultimately set him apart in the NBA.

Quick thinker

Young is not just a darting dribbler - he also reads the game faster than most. He has a knack for anticipating how the defense will react, and sets up the ensuing actions in those precious seconds while everyone else is catching up.

The play below is an example of Young's elite court vision. He immediately identifies a two-on-one advantage forming on the right, and then freezes his man by changing pace before leaving him for dead around a screen. Finally, Young draws a second defender by selling an aggressive layup before kicking out to the corner for a wide-open three:

Young is in full control throughout the entire play, and is able to deliver a right-handed pinpoint pass precisely into the shooter's hands despite having to contort in midair to avoid the help defender.

Here's another example of how Young sees a play develop before it actually happens. He drives aggressively past his man, drawing two help defenders at the basket before kicking it out to the corner at the last second:

It's another perfect pass - and this time, he uses his left hand for the airborne delivery.

Young is also particularly adept at driving against closeouts. In the play below, he hesitates for a half-beat to draw Frank Ntilikina to the perimeter, before blowing past him and pressuring the basket. Once the help defender slides over, Young cleverly dumps the ball off to the trailing big for an easy dunk:

Those plays highlight Young's unique ability to anticipate the defense and make immediate and accurate reads. He currently lacks the physical tools to consistently create offense against set defenses, so it's imperative that he capitalizes on his quickness while opponents are scrambling.

Selling the shot

A fearless jumper is the other weapon in Young's arsenal - and he knows exactly how to use his deep range to bluff his way into open looks for his teammates.

Young shot 36 percent from deep as a freshman in college on 10 attempts per game, while draining some of the most difficult looks imaginable. That can partly be attributed to his offensively limited teammates in Oklahoma, but it also points to a confidence level bordering on cockiness.

He often dares the defense to extend beyond the 3-point line because it allows him to unlock his playmaking. That's why Young tends to take comically deep threes early in games - he wants to make it clear he's a long-range threat:

Young thrives once defenses start responding to his jumper by showing him extra attention off the high screen. He'll need to bulk up to avoid being knocked off-balance against aggressive opponents, but even as a slender guard, he shows focus under defensive pressure and delivers terrific passes:

And Young makes a concerted effort to play through crowds of defenders, opening up shots for others. In the play below, he uses a quick spin move to get into the middle of the floor, and then deftly snakes the defender and pins him on his back while keeping his dribble alive. Young then uses that dribble and the threat of a floater to draw help, which allows the roller to slither free under the basket:

Young struggled against aggressive traps in college because his teammates were unable to capitalize on the advantage in four-on-three settings, but his life should be easier in the NBA, where he'll align with much better shooters and playmakers.

Here's an example of Young establishing some great chemistry with Hawks teammate John Collins. In this clip, Young simply dribbles to the middle, pulls in Collins' defender, and then hands it off to his wide-open teammate for the dunk:

All that being said, Young is still likely in for a rough rookie campaign, as oddsmakers have tabbed Atlanta to finish with the worst record in the league. But that might actually help Young in the long run. The Hawks don't have any immediate plans to compete, affording them the patience to navigate Young's ups and downs while feeding him a steady dose of possessions to work out the kinks.

Given that so much of Young's game is dependent on his jumper, his playing style will naturally lend itself to inconsistency. There will certainly be painful stretches during which he can't connect from deep, and therefore isn't able to draw help that frees up his teammates. But few players in the NBA can match Young's handle or passing ability - and those tools alone could make him a superstar, especially if he learns to make shots with regularity.