The Atlanta Hawks retooled their roster around standout guard Trae Young this offseason, but will not come to terms on a contract extension with the four-time All-Star before the season opener, The Athletic reported on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Young will make $46 million this season, the final guaranteed season of his five-year, $215.2 million deal. He can be a free agent next summer if a deal isn’t agreed upon, though he is eligible to re-sign with Atlanta during this season. Young has a player option for $49 million for the 2026-27 campaign.
He’s not the only Hawks star to put the team on hold as Wednesday’s regular-season opener versus Toronto approaches.
Big man Kristaps Porzingis, the headliner among the Hawks’ offseason acquisitions, will hold off on a potential extension until after this season, he told The Athletic earlier this week. Atlanta acquired the veteran forward/center and a 2026 second-round draft pick from the Boston Celtics in June in exchange for forward Georges Niang and a 2031 second-round pick (belonging to Cleveland).
The Hawks also brought in 3-point specialist Luke Kennard on a one-year contract and shored up their defense by acquiring Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Atlanta sent a 2027 second-round pick (via the Cavaliers) and cash to Minnesota in the swap.
Attempting to avoid the play-in tournament for the first time since 2022-23, Atlanta also will rely on talented young players like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher and Onyeka Okongwu.
In addition to Young, Porzingis and Kennard are eligible for free agency next summer. Daniels is up for an extension, though he would have to sign it by Monday. If not, he’ll become a restricted free agent next summer, though the Hawks firmly believe he will remain in Atlanta, per The Athletic.
Young, the No. 5 overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, led the league in 2024-25 with 11.6 assists per game along with averaging 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 76 games (all starts). Over 483 career games (all starts) spanning seven seasons, the Lubbock, Texas, native has posted averages of 25.3 points, 9.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals. He led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021.
–Field Level Media
