The Atlanta Hawks have endured several challenging seasons, leaning heavily on the brilliance of their franchise cornerstone, Trae Young. While the organization has expressed its intention to build a sustainable contender around him, the clock on Young’s tenure in Atlanta may be ticking down as the next NBA seasons approach.
Young’s future with the Hawks is emerging as one of the league’s most compelling storylines. According to Jake Fischer, the All-Star guard and his representatives have long prepared for the possibility of playing out the final guaranteed year of his contract rather than committing to another extension.
That deal, worth more than $200 million, still has two seasons remaining, including a $49 million player option for 2026-27. If Young declines that option and delivers another elite campaign — one that matches his own expectations for himself and what the Hawks believe they can achieve — he could hit the open market in the summer of 2026 as one of the NBA’s most coveted free agents.
At 26, Young remains one of the league’s premier offensive forces. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 24.2 points and an NBA-best 11.6 assists per game while shooting 41.1% from the field. Over the past three seasons, he has consistently posted more than 24 points and 10 assists per year, a feat that places him in rare company in NBA history. Many around the league believe his talent merits a stronger supporting cast and a franchise capable of contending for championships.
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after drawing a foul on a three-point basket against the Houston Rockets.
The Hawks, however, have struggled to match Young’s production with sustained success. Since drafting him in 2018, Atlanta has reached the playoffs only three times in seven years, with a stunning run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 standing as their lone deep postseason push. The lack of consistent winning has fueled speculation about Young’s long-term satisfaction in Atlanta.
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Adding to the uncertainty are reports of tension between Young and the Hawks’ front office. Marc J. Spears reported that Atlanta’s new leadership has yet to offer Young a maximum contract extension, despite his eligibility for a four-year, $229 million deal this summer.
Sources close to the situation suggest Young anticipated a show of commitment from the franchise, and the absence of such an offer has left the door open to questions about his future. For a player who has repeatedly expressed his desire to win at the highest level, a lack of alignment with the organization could prove decisive.
For now, both Young and the Hawks head into the 2025-26 season with a mutual goal: to contend in the NBA Eastern Conference. But if Atlanta cannot make meaningful strides toward that goal, the franchise risks watching its star player walk away — potentially in the most undesirable fashion for the team and its fans.
