After a flurry of offseason moves that kick-started a new era of Atlanta Hawks basketball, the front office faces a second challenge this season: managing Trae Young's contract negotiations.
The Hawks star has a player option for next season, opening the door for Young to enter unrestricted free agency if the two parties cannot come to an agreement this season. New reporting from Marc Stein, however, indicates that the Hawks' roster might not be as set in stone as fans expected.
Stein said, "I'm told that the Hawks are eager to see more of Young alongside versatile swingman Jalen Johnson— who was limited to 36 games last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury — as they make determinations about their big-picture future" (subscription required).
Stein is clearly indicating that the Hawks have not made their decision on their big-picture future, despite preparing for a Trae Young-led playoff run after assembling the perfect team to support him.
Trae Young's future is less certain than previously believed
If Stein is correct, there are two broad possibilities for how this upcoming season will go. The first, and one Hawks fans are hopeful for, is that Young and Johnson both have excellent years on their way to leading Atlanta to a respectable playoff run. In this case, Young is likely to be re-signed to the four-year maximum contract that the team has delayed offering.
However, if the team has a slow start to the season, it appears there will be pressure on Young and Johnson to improve. If the Hawks have not yet made "determinations about their big picture future," does that mean they are open to trading Young, Johnson, or both?
Young, of course, could enter free agency next offseason, making him the more urgent player for the team to address. The two sides are reportedly in a standoff in contract negotiations, and Young is prepared to play out this season without an extension.
If Young can't sufficiently convince the Hawks that the star duo of him and Johnson is a championship-caliber core, could they really consider trading him?
It seems ridiculous that the situation could have soured to the point where Atlanta is willing to trade Young rather than attempt to negotiate a contract. Yet, it could be seen as a necessary move the Hawks must take to defend their franchise. If Young reaches free agency without an extension, Atlanta will be forced to either give Young the max or lose him for nothing.
But players of Young's caliber just don't reach free agency anymore. They either get extended or traded, and all reporting has indicated the Hawks have begun to consider the latter option.
Alternatively, the Hawks could be open to dealing Jalen Johnson, but this seems like a stretch. What is Johnson's trade value, considering the wing is earning $30 million annually after playing just 92 games over the past two seasons? If the Hawks are considering trading him, it's likely because he hasn't met their expectations. It is unlikely Atlanta could earn a return that is worth Johnson's actual value as a player in this situation due to the risk that surrounds him at this moment.
Young, however, is a star whose talent many teams recognize.
What makes this situation so fascinating is that the Hawks clearly built this roster for a Trae Young-led team. Atlanta has assembled an army of secondary creators, but Young is their only primary ball handler. Without Young, the team would be directionless as it tries to navigate through this season. This gives Young all of the leverage in contract negotiations, yet Atlanta has balked at the idea of Young using his leverage for a max contract.
Trae Young should be able to prove that he and Johnson are the star core Atlanta needs. However, this reporting indicates that the two sides are still far from agreeing to an extension, with more talks about moving on from Young than re-signing him swirling around.