The long-term outlook for Trae Young with the Atlanta Hawks is “murky,” according to NBA insider Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Young is eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension, but the Hawks have not offered that deal.
“The long-term outlook for Trae Young in Atlanta is murky at the minimum at this point,” MacMahon said. “This is a guy who has been the face of the Atlanta Hawks for seven years. He’s averaged 25 and 10. You know, just led the league in assists. His offensive production has been elite. But there are question marks about whether this is going to, you know, be a long-term marriage.”
Young will make $45.9 million in 2025-26. He can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason by declining his 2026-27 player option with the Hawks worth $48.9 million.
One of the best scorers and passers in the NBA, Young averaged 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 11.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks for the Hawks last season in 76 games while shooting 41.1% from the field, 34.0% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line. The Oklahoma product was first in the NBA in assists and assists per game.
Atlanta missed the 2025 playoffs despite Young’s stellar season. The franchise made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. The Hawks haven’t won a playoff series since then.
Young has career averages of 25.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.2 blocks with the Hawks. He has made four All-Star teams and one All-NBA team.
The Hawks’ new front office was busy this offseason, signing Luke Kennard and trading for Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porziņģis.
Young is “confident” in his ability to lead Atlanta back to the playoffs next season, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
