The Atlanta Hawks appear increasingly willing to explore a trade for Trae Young, according to Marc Stein on The Stein Line Monday, December 29. League sources suggest the team’s openness is higher than ever, driven in part by the guard’s unsettled contract situation.
Young, 27, is in the fourth year of a five-year, $215 million deal with a player option for 2026-27. He did not reach a contract extension with Atlanta in the offseason, leaving the Hawks with financial and roster questions if he exercises his option.
Stein noted that the Hawks’ willingness to trade Young is complicated by potential moves for other stars, such as Anthony Davis. Atlanta would need to balance payroll carefully, especially if Young remains on the roster while pursuing additional high-cost acquisitions.
Through 10 games this season Young is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in 28.0 minutes. He also averages 1.5 rebounds, 2.6 turnovers and posts a 3.4 AST/TO ratio.
The team sits at 15-18 and is 10th in the Eastern Conference with a points-for figure of 118.8 and points-against of 120.1.
Jalen Johnson has been a key contributor with 23.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.4 assists across 30 games, according to the supplied box. Kristaps Porzingis adds 19.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in 13 appearances.
Dyson Daniels is providing playmaking and size with 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 32 games. Depth pieces such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game) and Onyeka Okongwu (16.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game) have also logged significant minutes but results remain uneven.
Stein’s framing focuses on a payroll dilemma: if Young declines a trade and later exercises his option, Atlanta must absorb that salary. That reality complicates any aggressive pursuit of a star like Anthony Davis unless Young moves simultaneously.
League sources say interest in trading Young has grown because the Hawks are not firmly committed to a long-term extension. Any trade now would require a substantial return given Young’s playmaking profile and remaining years on his deal.
