It has been a wierd summer time for the Atlanta Hawks. Between free company, a large three staff commerce, and waiving one man, they’ve had six gamers depart their roster. On the similar time, the franchise has welcomed Luke Kennard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Kristaps Porzingis. All three gamers are stable additions who will make the Hawks a much bigger risk of their convention.
None of that addresses the elephant within the room for the Hawks, their star level guard Trae Younger. He has been the face of the franchise for the reason that Mavericks drafted him in 2018 and instantly traded him to the Hawks for Luke Doncic. The four-time All-Star and 2025 Assists Chief is likely one of the greatest the league has to supply.
Maintaining that in thoughts, a giant resolution looms for the Hawks and for Younger. He can decide out of his five-year max contract subsequent summer time and the Hawks entrance workplace has seemingly made no overtures for an extension. Each side have huge selections about their futures to make quickly with the success or failure upcoming 2025-26 season seemingly tipping the scales.
Trae Younger is all elite…more often than not
Again within the 2018 NBA Draft, Trae Younger went fifth within the first spherical, the identical draft that noticed Luka Doncic go third and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go eleventh. It is no shock that Trae went so excessive within the draft. Throughout his one season on the College of Oklahoma, he was the NCAA scoring champion, the NCAA assists chief, and the recipient of the Wayman Tisdale Award.
His shot choice and play-making talents made him a straightforward choose up for any staff within the league. The Mavericks might have traded him for Luka on draft night time, however the Hawks have been actually completely happy to get him. Trae is the kind of level guard who could lead on a franchise to the promised land. That is what the Hawks thought, a minimum of.
Whereas the Hawks do have stable gamers, they’ve didn’t construct a real contender round Trae Younger. On the similar time, the staff is not getting the constant management out of Younger that they want. That is what makes the 2025/26 season so necessary.
Atlanta has made some strikes to make their staff a extra critical contender, giving Younger the backup and depth he wants.
The Atlanta Hawks and Trae Younger might half methods
Whereas the Hawks do have stable gamers, they’ve didn’t construct a real contender round Trae Younger. On the similar time, the staff is not getting the constant management out of Younger that they want. That is what makes the 2025/26 season so necessary.
Atlanta has made some strikes to make their staff a extra critical contender, giving Younger the backup and depth he wants. For the franchise, the query might be whether or not or not Younger can succeed with this new look Hawks.
They could be holding off an extension provide till they see what he can ship with this up to date roster. On the similar time, Younger and his administration staff are seemingly evaluating if the entrance workplace has performed sufficient to place him ready to succeed.
In the long run, the choice will come right down to the playoffs. If the Hawks have a superb post-season, a max extension might be supplied and certain accepted. If not, Trae Younger might transfer on to greener pastures or the Hawks may look to discover a celebrity who can get them a championship.
There is a sizable chunk of change within the stability and either side are going to need the perfect worth for his or her cash.
