The Atlanta Hawks and star guard Trae Young have made little progress toward a contract extension, according to ESPN.
Young is earning $46 million this season and holds a $49 million player option for next year, meaning he could become a free agent in 2026.
Atlanta’s front office has reportedly struggled to determine his true market value.
Although the four-time All-Star led the league in assists last season at 11.6 per game, the Hawks have averaged just 40 wins over the past four years and haven’t finished above .500 since 2021–22.
A max extension for Young would cost about $230 million over four years, but the team must also plan for upcoming deals with Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, plus Kristaps Porzingis’s potential free agency.
“The Hawks have been making smart decisions,” a Western Conference executive said. “Trae’s agent will figure out his market, and the Hawks will do their due diligence too.”
Young is currently out with a sprained knee, and Atlanta has gone 3–1 without him.
One Eastern Conference executive noted that the team could still “pick up the phone and listen” to offers, while another said, “that team is entirely built around him. He’s the engine that makes that ship go.”
Trae Young, Hawks Yet To Make Progress On Extension Amid Value Questions https://t.co/29OVb6JaU5
— RealGM (@RealGM) November 7, 2025
