Trae Young expected to remain with Hawks next season

Trae Young expected to remain with Hawks next season

The Atlanta Hawks have finished a middling 160-168 (.489) each of the last four seasons. The personnel has changed; the coaching staff has changed; but the results have not, having made the play-in each of the last four offseasons.

The other constant in the equation has been star guard Trae Young, who was last seen walking off the floor after being eliminated by the Miami Heat for the third time in four seasons.

Before another offseason of pondering what future looks like, it appears likely that the four-time All-Star will remain in Atlanta, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

“Talk of potential Young trades has undeniably faded after his generally strong 2024-25 season and return to All-Star status,” the report read, according to NBC. “Which is in sharp contrast to the past few seasons that ended with no shortage of ‘Trae Trade Talk’ … Hawks personnel have likewise spoken often this season about Young’s growth as a leader to the team’s young wing men.”

We’ve done this song and dance about discussing his future too many times to believe any differently, at this point.

Though it is worth mentioning that Atlanta fired general manager Landry Fields last week. Depending on how much ownership is involved with personnel decision-making, the new voice (which is TBD) could be influenced to move Young, who averaged an NBA-most 11.6 assists in addition to 24.2 points this season.

It’s also worth mentioning that Young, 26, will have just two years left on his current contract with a player option for $49.0 million. That deal becomes more valuable to other teams the closer that expiration date gets, though the team that likely trades for him would is (likely) going to want to play him.

Hawks fire general manager Landry Fields

There’s no doubt that he’s a polarizing player throughout the league. He’s a small guard, and the NBA isn’t a small guards league. But he’s an incredible playmaking point guard who’s consistently elevated Atlanta in a top-10 unit when he’s on the floor, which is a rarity in today’s NBA.

I’m curious to see what directions the Hawks go. They didn’t do great in the De’Andre Hunter or Bogdan Bogdanovic trades, but they have a decent young core alongside Young to, dare I say, make a fifth-straight play-in? I just wonder at one point is being stuck in mediocrity enough, whether that means trading Young or not.

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