Shams Charania on what he has been told about Trae Young’s feelings about the Atlanta Hawks

Young is leading the Hawks’ project to succeed

With the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers losing their superstars to Achilles injuries, the Hawks can capitalize. Most people will look at the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks as favorites, and rightfully so. The Hawks can rise and become a contender alongside them.

It will be a challenging task, but the Hawks have the talent to keep up. They have Young as the superstar, Jalen Johnson as another rising star, and the supporting cast is superb. Porzingis has championship experience from his time with the Celtics, and Zaccharie Risacher will build on his promising rookie year.

Whether Young signs an extension this offseason or the next is a major topic, but the focus is on competing. The Playoffs are a possibility, and making it further than the past four seasons will be significant.

“He has two years left in his deal this upcoming season. But, he has a player option in 2026. He could be a free agent next summer. It’s gonna be a much more flush market in free agency coming up,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said on NBA Today.

“This is an Atlanta Hawks team that has made a ton of moves. Got Kristaps Porzingis. They can go several different directions. They have a rising young team, they have Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, but the Hawks want to see how this team looks.”

“Trae Young, by all accounts, I’m told, is locked in; he’s excited about this team. He really believes this team is as close to that team that made it to the Conference Finals in the East. If there is no extension. I would not be surprised if he just waits until the 2026 summer.”

The Hawks look promising ahead of the 2025-26 season

The key to building around a small guard is giving him perimeter defenders and shooters. That is what the Hawks’ front office has done to help Young compete in the East. With Rissacher, Johnson, Alexander-Walker, and Dyson Daniels, the Hawks have pesky defenders who can also score.

It is undeniable that Atlanta has a bright future with the roster. Young is still their superstar, and he is good enough as a playmaker to maximize everyone. Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu form an interesting center rotation, which is important in a league where size matters more.

With Young playing as the primary offensive generator, this Hawks team could be one of the scariest in the league. They have all the tools on both sides of the floor, and they should be ready to keep fighting.