Atlanta Hawks' Delay in Extending Contract for Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks Take a Cautious Approach with Trae Young's Contract Extension
The Atlanta Hawks are taking a deliberate approach with the contract extension of star point guard Trae Young, despite his impressive performance on the court. This decision comes as both sides have agreed to wait until after the 2025-26 season to make a long-term commitment.
Young, who is earning $46.0 million this season and has a nearly $49.0 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign, will play out the final guaranteed year of his contract before negotiations begin. The Hawks seem to be waiting for Young to demonstrate his worth with improved roster support before committing to a costly extension exceeding $200 million.
Meanwhile, Young himself appears to be resigned to this timeline and is not pushing for a premature departure from Atlanta. This patient approach mirrors the strategy taken by the San Antonio Spurs when they quickly offered De'Aaron Fox a max extension after trading for him mid-season, but the Hawks' situation differs since Young was not traded.
The Hawks have been proactive in surrounding Young with better two-way support, acquiring players such as Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard. These additions position Young to prove his worth for a max contract based on next season's results.
Key factors influencing the Hawks' decision include the contract's financial implications, Young's contract structure, roster improvements, and Young's own position. The impending max extension could be a massive commitment with salary cap consequences, so the Hawks are being cautious. Young's sizable player option for 2026-27 allows control over the future timeline, reducing pressure for an immediate extension.
Moreover, the Hawks have invested in improving Young's supporting cast, expecting that a stronger team around him will enable better efficiency and playoff success, which is a key criterion for a max extension. Reports indicate that Young is not upset about the delay and is motivated to prove he deserves the contract financially and competitively.
Elsewhere, the Hawks are also focusing on negotiations with Dyson Daniels, who had a breakout campaign and won the Most Improved Player award. Daniels is eligible to sign an extension with the Hawks until the start of the regular season, after which he will become a restricted free agent next offseason. If Daniels doesn't come to terms with the Hawks by the regular season start, he will no longer be eligible for an extension.
Porzingis' new extension can start at only 120% of what he's set to earn this season until that January date, and at 140% after that. If Porzingis decides to extend his contract with the Hawks, he could potentially secure a four-year extension.
The Hawks might prefer to wait and see how new offseason acquisitions fit together before making a long-term financial commitment. If the Hawks re-sign all three of Young, Daniels, and Porzingis, they could exceed the luxury-tax line.
In summary, the Atlanta Hawks are adopting a strategic approach to maximise Young's value and the team's championship window before committing to an enormous extension. Both sides seem aligned on this patient approach for now.
Sports enthusiasts are eagerly watching the Atlanta Hawks' handling of Trae Young's contract extension, particularly in the NBA basketball arena. Given the upcoming improvements to the team's roster and Trae Young's impressive performance, this proactive strategy may position the Hawks for a successful playoff run and maximize Young's worth ahead of a potential max extension.
