The Atlanta Hawks and star point guard Trae Young have been unable to reach a new contract extension amid trade rumors. The Hawks have gone 11-7 this season, including 9-4 without Young, who is expected to remain sidelined until at least early December due to a sprained MCL.
Hawks Listening To Trae Young Trade Offers
Speaking to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps earlier this month, an anonymous Eastern Conference executive suggested that the Hawks aren’t opposed to the idea of trading Young, stating, “Atlanta is good enough to keep Trae and be good and make the playoffs. But with the [New Orleans’ Pelicans 2026 first-round] pick and Jalen [Johnson], Dyson [Daniels], and Zach [Risacher], they’ll at least pick up the phone and listen when called.”
The Hawks entered the 2025-26 season as a projected playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. They returned a core of Young, Johnson, Daniels, and the 2024 No. 1 overall pick in Risacher, while acquiring Kristaps Porzingis in a trade and signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency.
Atlanta was also able to acquire the Pelicans’ unprotected first-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Pelicans Could Trade Zion Williamson
With all of this in mind, New Orleans could be the perfect landing spot for Young.
Both Zion Williamson and Young are rumored to join new teams at this stage of their careers. Swapping Young for Williamson has its risks, but another one for Atlanta is keeping Young on the roster.
The Hawks haven’t reached the second round of the playoffs since 2021. Atlanta also lost in the first round in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023, and the team has missed the playoffs the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, New Orleans became the first team in NBA history to lose three of its first six games by at least 30 points, after allowing at least 120 points in five straight games to open a season, per ESPN Stats & Information.
While Williamson was injured, New Orleans dropped six straight and fired coach Willie Green. The Pelicans, who were 2-10 at the time of Green’s departure, named Borrego the interim coach.
Last season, Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 30 games while shooting 56.7% from the field and 65.6% from the foul line.
During the offseason, the Pelicans guaranteed Williamson’s $39.4 million salary for this campaign. His 2025-26 salary is part of the five-year, $197.23 million extension he signed with New Orleans in July 2022.
Young Remains Extension-Eligible
In 76 games (all starts) with the Hawks last season, Young averaged 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, a career high and NBA-leading 11.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 36 minutes per contest.
His 200 assists in the fourth quarter were the most since John Stockton in 1996-97.
However, Young shot a career-low 51.1% from the field and posted a disappointing effective field goal percentage (49.1%). His 355 turnovers led all players as well.
Young also led the league in turnovers in 2021-22 (303) and 2022-23 (300).
Had Young been named All-NBA last season, he would have been eligible to ink a five-year, $345 million super max extension with the Hawks this past offseason.
Per Spotrac, Young has a $48.96 million player option for next season and is earning $45.99 million this campaign. The four-time All-Star is eligible for a four-year, $229 million max extension.
Young signed a five-year, $215.15 million rookie max extension with Atlanta in 2021. If a new deal isn’t reached and the 27-year-old declines his option, he’ll hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
