Trae Young reacts during an NBA game.
TheAtlanta Hawks and star guardTrae Young will not finalize a contract extension before the start of the 2025–26 NBA season,according toThe Athletic.
Young, 27, is entering the final guaranteed year of his deal and could become a free agent next summer if no new agreement is reached. He remains eligible to sign an extension during the upcoming season.
Young is set to earn $46 million in 2025–26 and holds a $49 million player option for 2026–27,according to SpoTrac. If he declines that option, he would enter unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.
Hawks Taking a Wait-and-See Approach
Atlanta opted not to rush an extension this summer after making several roster moves to retool around its four-time All-Star. The organization spent the offseason addingKristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, andLuke Kennard – a trio that bolsters the Hawks’ size, shooting, and defensive versatility.
Those roster moves have created heightened expectations for the Hawks in 2025-26. Sportsbook BetMGM currently lists the Hawks win total at over/under 46.5 Atlanta has not won 46 or more games since the 2015-16 season, which was a squad led by Paul Millsap and a 29-year-oldAl Horford.
Team officials reportedly want to evaluate how Young’s supporting cast fits together under head coach Quin Snyder before making long-term commitments. Porziņģis, who is also entering a contract year, toldThe Athletic that he prefers to play out the season before discussing a new deal.
What It Means for Atlanta
The Hawks are aiming to return to the upper tier of the Eastern Conference after finishing in the Play-In Tournament three straight seasons. Young remains the focal point of that push — he averaged 24.2 points and an NBA-leading 11.6 assists per game in 2024–25 and has averaged 25.3 points and 9.8 assists across his seven-year career.
The franchise’s hope is that a rebalanced roster centered on two-way playmakers likeJalen Johnson,Dyson Daniels, andOnyeka Okongwu can help unlock another level for Young, who led Atlanta to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
While the lack of an extension may raise eyebrows, there is no indication of tension between the two sides. The Hawks and Young are expected to revisit contract talks later in the season, depending on team performance.
The decision also gives Atlanta flexibility heading into a potentially pivotal cap year. The Hawks are projected to carry one of the league’s top-10 payrolls in 2025–26, and a new deal for Young could push them deeper into the luxury tax, according to SpoTrac. His player option for 2026–27 complicates the team’s long-term planning, especially with Porzingis also eligible for a new contract next summer.
The Hawks have the majority of their salary cap tied up in Young, Porzingis (~$31 million), and Johnson ($30 million). Alexander-Walker ($15 million), Okongwu ($15 million), first overall pick Zaccaharie Risacher ($13.2 million) and Kennard ($11 million) round out the rest of the roster making at least $10 million or more. Daniels’ $7.7 million will quickly grow when he signs his next contract.
Atlanta opens the regular season on October 22 at home against theToronto Raptors.