After the Atlanta Hawks revamped the roster this offseason, everyone's focus was on this next season. After all, the team is one of the best in the conference just one year removed from a disappointing season that ended in the Play-In.
But coach Quin Snyder revealed during the Hawks' 2025 Media Day that the timeline in Atlanta can be much longer than initially assumed, citing the stat that the Hawks are the third-youngest team in the league this season.
This puts the team's summer into new context. What was an already impressive win-now performance by Onsi Saleh is now a masterclass that advances the team's short and long-term futures. The team constructed the perfect team around Trae Young that could be one of the best teams in the East for years to come.
Can the Hawks retain their core for the foreseeable future?
Atlanta has two issues it must address this season before fans can truly feel comfortable in the state of their long-term outlook: Kristaps Porzingis and Young's expiring contracts.
Porzingis appears to be the easier player to address. His talent is undeniable, and he is perhaps the best in the league at improving his teammates' performance without touching the ball. The threat of his electrifying three point and shot blocking talent helped revolutionize the Celtics' offense, and he fits in perfectly alongside Young and the Hawks' young core.
However, giving Porzingis long-term guaranteed money is an inherent risk given his troubling injury history. After all, no team was willing to beat Atlanta's dirt-cheap offer, as not many teams have the matching salary to risk on his health.
The Hawks, however, are in a unique situation. Until Zaccharie Risacher receives his pay raise in 2028, the team has the financial flexibility to retain Porzingis. While it would be optimal to execute this through a series of short-term deals, the team also gained back valuable draft capital this year in the Asa Newell-Derik Queen trade. There is no reason the Hawks, who now hold Porzingis's Bird Rights, cannot retain the big man if they choose to.
Like Porzingis, there is no reason Trae Young cannot be retained next season. He even said during media day that he is not worried about his contract situation. Unlike Porzingis, however, Young will presumably have suitors if Atlanta fails to offer him a max deal.
Young has a player option for next season that he is expected to decline. While it is terrifying to think that the team could enter a position where Young could walk in free agency, this just does not seem likely.
The Hawks built a team hand-crafted for their franchise player this offseason. If they plan to let Young leave, whether through free agency or trade, there is no feasible way to replace Young. Players of Young's caliber just don't leave in free agency in the modern NBA. The team will also have no leverage to get an equal return on their value in a trade, as displayed by the De'Aaron Fox trade last season.
So, while the two sides may play a game of chicken to achieve their goals, there is a very small chance Young will not be a Hawk next season. With Young, Porzingis, and the third youngest team in the league, the Hawks could form a formidable playoff team for years to come.