Trae Young is still not asking to be traded from the Atlanta Hawks; at least not publicly.
Young has made it clear in the past that his wish is to play his entire career with the team that drafted him. However, Young has also expressed his strong desire to win at a high level and noted that organizations are not always ready to do that.
That, along with the Hawks’ middling status in recent seasons, serve as a backdrop as Young enters what could be the final year of his $215.1 million contract in 2025-26.
Young said he is “stuck in the moment” with the team’s outlook and a potential extension.
“It’s hard to determine the future. I’m so stuck in the moment right now and focusing on what they wanted me to do this year by trying to build these young guys and give them confidence. I’m focused on that and not focusing on the end result. At the end of the day, focus on getting better every day and letting the results come as they go,” Young told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto in an interview published on March 28.
“I’m still stuck in the moment right now and not really focusing on that [contract] right now. I know it’s going to come. People will be asking questions here. I’m just focusing on this team, building these young guys, and giving them confidence. At the end of the year, everything else will be discussed.”
Young will be eligible for a $229 million extension this offseason, so his opening line will draw attention, since it seemingly leaves the door open for anything.
Young was the subject of trade rumors last offseason with links to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Hawks ultimately traded Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, sparking a retooling that shifted the roster into what appears to be a near-perfect fit for Young. Losing Jalen Johnson after 36 games put a cap on how this team will go.
However, they have also offered plenty of glimpses of what they can become with another offseason to build chemistry and finalize the roster construction.
That uncertainty just underscores the significance of the Hawks’ decision on Young.
“Here’s the other thing about Atlanta: they either have to pay Trae Young a serious max – not a smaller max. They have to pay him a real deal, like 30-to-35% – the max contract depending on if he can make All-NBA next year, or they have to probably move on, right?” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie said on “The Game Theory Podcast” on March 9. “It gets a little bit trickier, I think, for them moving forward.”
The Hawks have nine games left in the regular season and appear headed for the Play-In Tournament, which would extend their season by at least one game.
After that, though, the really difficult discussions must be had.