Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young ranks among the most polarizing players in the NBA. He's on a statistical trajectory that may very well open up the doors to the Hall of Fame, but his flaws have become as prominent in conversations as his strengths.
With Young now eligible for a contract extension, it appears as though the Hawks are coming to an unfortunate realization: His style of play will only fit with the current core for so much longer.
Young is a remarkable talent, capable of stuffing the stat sheet in ways that few in NBA history have managed. Widespread concerns over his defensive inconsistency and ball-dominant style of play on offense, however, may be permeating the front office if a recent rumor proves true.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Young and the Hawks aren't planning to discuss a contract extension despite his eligibility to receive one.
"Unlike Dončić and Fox, after all, Young did not have to wait until early August to become eligible for a contract extension. He's been able to sign a new deal with the Hawks since July 6. Yet league sources tell me there are no plans for Young and the Hawks to engage in extension talks this summer."
It's a reflection of an unfortunate potential realization in Atlanta: For as talented as Young is, the current version of his game isn't an ideal long-term fit for the current roster.
Trae Young has helped young core, but they'll outgrow him if he doesn't adapt
Young deserves his flowers for sacrificing for the team, buying into a new head coach's philosophy, and empowering his younger teammates to take chances. That alone offers Atlanta reason to consider signing him to a new long-term deal.
As players such as Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher continue to develop as on-ball players, however, Young's ball-dominant game will become more difficult to incorporate.
Young is coming off of a season in which he led the NBA in assists per game, but he was also No. 1 in turnovers. Furthermore, he averaged 8.4 three-point field goal attempts despite burying just 34.0 percent of his shots—the second time in three seasons he's converted that inefficiently or worse.
Compounded by the facts that 7.0 of his 8.4 three-point field goal attempts per game were pull-ups, and he shot 33.6 percent in catch-and-shoot situations, it's fair to question his off-ball value.
Johnson, meanwhile, averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 block per game—and is only 23 years of age. It's thus fair to believe that his offensive workload should increase over time, especially when one considers that he's shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in three of his four NBA seasons.
The same expectation for an increased share of the offensive responsibilities applies to Daniels and Risacher as they tap into more of their own potential.
The story hasn't yet been written, of course, as Young could prove more willing to work away from the ball and improve defensively. With the arrival of veterans such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Kristaps Porzingis, there should be no shortage of opportunities to defer to reliable teammates.
If Young comes back as the same player in 2025-26 that he was in 2024-25, however, then the Hawks must accept that his fit alongside a promising young core will soon run its course.