Trae Young may be entering his seventh NBA season, but the Atlanta Hawks have yet to offer their All-Star point guard a contract extension—an absence that reportedly hasn’t gone unnoticed.
According to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Young is “disappointed” that the franchise hasn’t initiated extension talks. Spears shared the update on NBA Today, citing Young’s body language during the NBA Finals and a cryptic tweet as signals of his growing dissatisfaction.
“There’s a new front office in Atlanta that’s trying to make decisions,” Spears said. “What I’m hearing now… he’s disappointed that it hasn’t come, it hasn’t been offered.”
Young, 26, remains under contract through the 2025-26 season, with a player option for 2026-27. However, players of his stature are typically approached for extensions ahead of their final guaranteed year.
Since arriving in Atlanta in 2018, the Oklahoma product has been the face of the franchise. He holds career averages of 25.3 points and 9.8 assists per game and is coming off a 2024-25 campaign where he posted 24.2 points and a career-high 11.6 assists per contest.
Despite his production, the Hawks have underachieved in recent years. Since their 2021 run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Atlanta has failed to make it past the first round. That has fueled speculation about the team’s long-term direction, especially under new front office leadership.
While the Hawks have made roster changes, including acquiring Kristaps Porzingis earlier this summer, Young’s status remains unchanged. No formal trade request has been made, but the absence of an extension offer could become a factor by next offseason.
If Young plays out this season without a new deal, it could set up a pivotal summer in 2026. With a player option looming and no extension in place, his future with the franchise could hinge on both performance and organizational commitment.
Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension in August 2021. The earliest the Hawks could offer a new extension under current CBA rules was this offseason.
