Few teams have as much riding on a strong 2025-26 season as the Atlanta Hawks. They built a terrific roster around star Trae Young, turning a middling roster into a potential Eastern Conference contender.
Granted, the East is paper-thin heading into next season, with the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers being weakened with injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. Still, the Hawks have a chance to go deep in the East.
That’s assuming that things work out with Young, who has yet to be signed to a contract extension. That’s unusual since most teams lock up their stars to extensions the first chance they get.
The Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs did just that with them extending Luka Doncic and De’Aaron Fox to three- and four-year extensions, respectively. The Fox extension in particular may have a big say in contract discussions between Young and the Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young are far apart on a new deal
Young could look at Fox’s 4-year, $229 million extension and want the same deal, and he’d have a point. Young is arguably the better player—atleast the better offensive player of the two, so if Fox got paid, then why not Young?
That’s fair reasoning, but Young’s value around the NBA seems to be in a weird place. He is one of the best point guards in the league, but teams seem hesitant to offer much for him in trade talks.
That all but ensures that he wouldn’t get max money in free agency. Still, the Hawks have that to offer, and that may be Young’s expectations. They may want him to earn it, but what if he plays well, and the Hawks thrive only for them to balk on giving him the max?
Trae Young has the Hawks stuck between a rock and a hard place
He could very well leave in free agency next summer, with teams such as the Brooklyn Nets, Lakers, and Washington Wizards having significant cap space. Letting him leave is all the more complicated by them not owning their 2027 first, which is owned by the Spurs.
Him leaving and the Hawks backsliding into the playoffs could cost them a lottery pick. Even a bad 2025-26 season would result in them losing their pick to the Spurs, who have swap rights. That doesn’t give the Hawks a lot of room for error.
With any luck, the Hawks will live up to expectations next season, encouraging both Atlanta and Young to come back to the negotiating table.
