When the Atlanta Hawks drafted Oklahoma product Trae Young fifth overall in this year's draft, the front office knew what they were getting themselves into. This is why Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk was quick to defend his young star after the 19-year-old received some criticism for his early performances in the NBA Summer League.

With a couple of preseason contests under his belt, the results have been mixed for the flamboyant point guard. Young debuted with a 10-point and seven-assist performance against the Utah Jazz, and followed it up with a more impressive 21-point, 11-assist double-double two nights later against the New York Knicks.

However, much was left to be desired in the shooting category for a player who has been labelled by some as the “next Steph Curry.” Young went 4-of-17 from beyond the arc in the team's first two contests along with nine turnovers.

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Nonetheless, Schlenk strongly believes that Young remains to be a work in progress. He also conveyed to Sam Amick of USA TODAY that the Hawks are willing to wait it out with Young.

“I think it just speaks to the way society is now where it’s all about instant gratification,” Schlenk told USA TODAY Sports about Young, the 6-foot-2, 178-pounder who averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists with the Sooners. “‘Everybody’s like, oh he missed one shot, and it’s ‘Oh, he’s a bust.’ This is a long process for him. It’s not going to be a summer league. It’s not going to be a season. It will be a two or three-year thing, and that’s when we’re going to find out who Trae Young really is.”

Young is behind starting point guard Dennis Schröder in the pecking order, which gives Young a bit more leeway to work with. The supportive statement from his GM should also further boost the confidence level of the teenager.