Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Intriguing Eastern Conference team facing 'murky' future with star player

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 2:10 PM ET

The Atlanta Hawks have quietly rebuilt their roster in recent years. Quin Snyder now has a young and talented team at his disposal, and internal development will be key to the franchise's success moving forward.

That didn't stop the Hawks from adding veteran center Kristaps Porzingis this summer. Porzingis' arrival will give Trae Young an elite floor-spacing center for the first time in his career. However, adding Porzingis may be too little, too late, when it comes to appeasing Young.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Young's future with the Hawks is far from clear.

“The long-term outlook for Trae Young in Atlanta is murky at the minimum at this point. This is a guy who has been the face of the Atlanta Hawks for seven years. He’s averaged 25 and 10. You know, just led the league in assists. His offensive production has been elite. But there are question marks about whether this is going to, you know, be a long-term marriage.”

Young has been part of multiple roster iterations in Atlanta as the franchise has struggled to build a contending team around him. It's worth noting, though, that Young's limited defense has also been a key factor in the consistent change of directions.

Young's contract is coming to an end

Young is entering the final fully guaranteed year of his five-year $215 million contract. The 2026-27 season will be a player option, which he will most likely decline in order to sign a new, longer-term deal, either with Atlanta or elsewhere.

It's likely that Young will see how the upcoming season plays out before making a decision. Porzingis' future could be another factor in Young's decision, as he is also on an expiring deal and could walk away at the end of the upcoming campaign.

Young has been a cornerstone for Atlanta for his entire career. However, it may suit everyone involved if he takes his talents elsewhere. After all, Snyder is building for the future with the current core, and Young is reaching a point in his career where it's time to be challenging for championships.

Things will get interesting with Atlanta next summer, especially if it has a semi-successful season.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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