Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks are actively collaborating on a potential trade, according to reporting from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
At this stage, no specific destinations have surfaced, and there’s still uncertainty around how teams across the league currently value Young as discussions begin to take shape.
The dialogue between Young and the organization didn’t start recently. Those conversations trace back to the offseason, when Atlanta chose not to pursue a contract extension with the star guard.
That decision left the door open to future flexibility, especially with Young holding a $49 million player option for the 2026–27 season.
If he opts out, he would be positioned to enter unrestricted free agency, adding another layer of complexity to Atlanta’s long-term planning.
Young has been the face of the franchise since 2018, when the Hawks traded down from the No. 3 pick with the Dallas Mavericks and selected him instead of Luka Doncic.
That move defined the organization’s direction for years, highlighted by Young leading Atlanta to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022 and earning an All-NBA nod that same season.
However, team success has been inconsistent since that playoff run. This season has also been interrupted by health setbacks for Young.
He previously missed multiple weeks due to a right MCL sprain and is currently sidelined again, this time dealing with a right quad contusion, further clouding the immediate outlook as trade talks continue to develop.
Trae Young, Hawks Working Together On Tradehttps://t.co/yFz53weOO8
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 5, 2026
