Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks’ star point guard, is at a pivotal moment as he contemplates his future with the franchise. With a possible four-year, $229 million contract extension on the table and free agency looming in the summer of 2026, this season is expected to be decisive for both Young and the Hawks.
The focus on a Trae Young Hawks contract extension has intensified amid ongoing speculation about the team’s commitment to retaining their franchise centerpiece.
Concerns Raised by NBA Analysts Over Young’s Continuation in Atlanta
NBA analysts Matt Winer and Steve Smith recently discussed Young’s uncertain future on NBA TV, emphasizing that the 2025-26 season will be a defining period in his career. They pointed to the Hawks’ busy offseason moves as a backdrop to this uncertainty.
Winer highlighted Atlanta’s efforts to improve the roster by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and signing role players Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard, noting the franchise’s ability to offer Young a significant contract extension. Yet the lack of any formal offer or public negotiation has fueled speculation and doubt about the organization’s intentions.
Winer described the Hawks as entering a “new-look” phase, posing the question of whether the team will commit to Young or consider other directions ahead of his impending free agency.
You know, like you said, you never heard a word about what they’re gonna do. So it is good, you want to keep it in-house, don’t want it to get all out,
Steve Smith said during the discussion.
Smith also remarked on the evolving attitudes among NBA franchises about offering multiple max contracts, suggesting that teams are becoming more cautious in these decisions.
Impact of Roster Changes on Young’s Potential and Team Dynamics
Steve Smith expressed optimism about Young’s situation given the restructured Hawks lineup. He praised the addition of big men and complementary players, seeing these moves as positioning the roster to better support Young’s style of play.
I think what I do like now is Trae Young now has a team with bigs,
Smith said, continuing,
Jalen Johnson is coming back, he’s a lob guy, he has a defender, he has shooting, and I love Porzingis, as they got, as a big and shooting.
Then you have Luke Kennard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the big point guard that can you have him run off and play too. So I think they finally got all the pieces to match his talent. And then I love the draft pick, Newell, he can really play because he’s a young guy,
Smith added.
Smith’s view positions the Hawks as having built a roster more capable of maximizing Young’s abilities, which he believes should motivate the franchise to lock Young into a long-term deal soon.
Winer pointed out that Porzingis may be the best teammate Young has had, underscoring how this season will likely test Young’s leadership and compatibility with the revamped roster.
I don’t know if they do or not,
Winer admitted when asked if the Hawks truly want to keep Young long-term.
Maybe they’ll know after this upcoming season, with all that talent around them, and see where the Hawks land. Then they make a decision. But if they don’t act now, they run the risk of him walking in the summer of 2026.
The Stakes of Retaining Trae Young for the Hawks’ Future
Young, who has been an integral part of the Hawks since being drafted in 2018, remains the face of the franchise. His performance and leadership have shaped the team’s identity and strategies over the years. However, despite his talent and All-Star status, Young has yet to lead the Hawks to an NBA championship.
The organization’s recent moves suggest a serious attempt to build a stronger supporting cast around him. Whether this new team composition will be enough to convince Young to remain in Atlanta could define the franchise’s trajectory.
This season will reveal if the Hawks are prepared to fully commit to Trae Young through a contract extension or risk losing him in the 2026 free agency period, a scenario that would necessitate a major rebuild.
Our Reader’s Queries
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Q. Why did Trae Young wear 8?
A. On January 26, Young scored 45 points and made 14 assists, leading to a 152–133 victory over the Washington Wizards. To honor Kobe Bryant, who had passed away hours earlier in a helicopter accident in California, Young wore No. 8 for the first eight seconds of the game.