Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks stands poised to demonstrate his worthiness for a contract extension during the upcoming season, proving to the team that he's a worthy long-term investment.
In the world of NBA, the Atlanta Hawks and star point guard Trae Young find themselves in an intriguing contract standoff. As of mid-August 2025, negotiations for a contract extension have stalled, with no plans for extension talks this summer [1][3].
Young, who has been a driving force for the Hawks since his arrival, is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth up to $229 million this summer. However, he has opted not to engage in negotiations yet, expressing frustration over the delay, especially as peers like Luka Dončić and De'Aaron Fox have secured massive deals [2][3].
The absence of a deal this summer gives Young the chance to earn a larger, potentially max five-year, $345 million extension if he makes an All-NBA team during the 2025-26 season [1][3]. This performance-based incentive could significantly increase his contract value.
Young led the league in assists at 11.6 a game last season and is the franchise centerpiece of the Hawks. He had a 24.2 points per game average in his fourth All-Star season [1][3]. The Hawks have strengthened their roster with players like Kristaps Porziņģis to provide Young better support than ever before, positioning the 2025-26 season as a potentially narrative-shifting year for him and the franchise [1][3].
If Young delivers at an All-NBA level, he could command a record-setting extension afterward. His motivation to prove himself as a winning player built around the Hawks' roster is high [1][2]. However, there is some tension, as Young reportedly feels left out watching his peers sign big contracts, which could create friction or trade speculation by the NBA trade deadline if no extension occurs [2].
The Hawks, on the other hand, appear comfortable letting Young play out the final guaranteed year of his current contract (around $46 million for 2025-26) plus his $49 million player option for 2026-27, which he is expected to opt out of to pursue a bigger deal afterward [1][3].
In the meantime, Young continues to shine on the court. His number of touches per game has consistently been over 80 since the 2019-20 season, and he averaged 85.5 touches per game in the 2023-24 season [1][3]. His average number of seconds per touch has varied slightly, ranging from 5.49 in the 2018-19 season to 5.82 in the 2023-24 season [1][3].
The upcoming season promises to be a defining one for Young. With everything lining up for him to have a massive year, he will have a chance to prove himself for a max contract. His performance in the upcoming season could potentially result in various individual accolades and a deep run in the playoffs.
[1] ESPN, "Trae Young contract: Hawks star has chance at record-setting extension if he makes All-NBA team in 2025-26," accessed August 15, 2025.
[2] The Athletic, "Sources: Trae Young frustrated with Hawks over contract extension delay," accessed August 15, 2025.
[3] Sports Illustrated, "Trae Young's Contract Extension: What You Need to Know," accessed August 15, 2025.
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