Trae Young could be the next NBA star in line to sign a contract extension this offseason.
Luka Doncic, De’Aaron Fox, and Mikal Bridges have all agreed to lucrative new deals in the past week or so.
Young has just one year left on his contract (and a player option) heading into the 2025-26 season, so the Atlanta Hawks should be keen to find a resolution.
Well, NBA reporter Marc Spears has revealed whether Young and the Hawks are progressing in their negotiations.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesLatest update on Trae Young contract talks with Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks drafted Trae Young with the fifth pick in the 2018 NBA draft after a trade with the Dallas Mavericks involving Luka Doncic.
Young has since made four All-Star appearances and led the Hawks to the playoffs three times.
They made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, and now some people are tipping them to return there after a productive offseason.
Young is clearly the Hawks’ best player and will be at the heart of anything they achieve going forward, so it would make sense to tie him down to a long-term contract.
Well, Spears is reporting that the point guard is “disappointed” not to have been offered an extension and could enter free agency next summer.
“Trae has done a lot to show that he’s invested in the Hawks,” Spears said. “He convinced Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to sign with the Hawks.
“Instead of going to the Jordan thing this summer, he came to Summer League and met with Bryson Graham, the new president, and some other new front office guys. There’s a new front office that’s trying to make decisions.
“What I’m hearing now, and you can tell by Trae’s tweet, and I saw him during the Finals, I think he’s disappointed that it hasn’t been offered.
“So don’t be surprised at this point if he plays it out and sees what happens next summer. But to me, Trae has nothing to prove. He’s a star.”
Atlanta Hawks can take advantage of wide-open Eastern Conference
With the unfortunate Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton in the playoffs, the Eastern Conference is now wide open.
The two obvious contenders to make the NBA Finals next season are the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks have emerged as contenders after some key offseason additions.
The Hawks added Alexander-Walker, Kennard, and Kristaps Porzingis this summer, all of whom could come off the bench next season.
Head coach Quin Snyder can now roll out a strong 10-man roster in the playoffs, with potentially the best second unit in the league.