With the news that Tyrese Haliburton has suffered a torn Achilles tendon, the path forward has never been clearer for the Atlanta Hawks. It's now obvious that the front office's best option is going to be extending Trae Young this summer, even if it means giving him close to max money.
All of a sudden, the Eastern Conference looks totally wide open for next season. For the Hawks, getting their franchise point guard back in town is going to be their best chance of making the most of this opportunity.
Think back to 2021 when Atlanta made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals. The circumstances have never been more perfect for the Hawks to pull off something similar in 2025-26 with how dramatically the injury landscape has shifted in recent months in this league.
All three of Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton are expected to miss most, if not all, of next season, with Achilles injuries. These are unfortunate circumstances for great players, but the reality of their injuries is that they open up a real opportunity for Atlanta.
The Hawks should re-sign Young for less than the max
At least one of these teams will likely still be competitive, but their ceiling will unquestionably be lower without one of their best players. The Celtics, Bucks and Pacers have each reached an NBA Finals this decade. The Hawks will gain an upper hand with several of their main rivals knocked down a level from where they're usually at.
Only a handful of teams will be left in the East that have true title aspirations. That leaves Atlanta with just one option that makes sense: Go all in. You have a chance to make an Indiana-esque run in the playoffs next season, and there's no reason not to bet on yourself.
Trae Young's future has been a constant topic of discussion when talking about the Hawks in recent months. While signing him to a lengthy extension might still give some fans some pause, there's no question it's the right decision given the circumstances.
All things considered, Atlanta is not that far away from contention in the East. The conference is sitting in a more vulnerable position than usual, and it's time for the Hawks to take advantage of this opportunity.