Trae Young, Hawks won't agree on contract extension before NBA season: Sources

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks and Trae Younger is not going to comply with a contract extension earlier than the beginning of the common season, league sources instructed The Athletic on Thursday.

Younger, 27, is coming into the ultimate assured season of his contract and may develop into a free agent subsequent summer time if he doesn’t signal a brand new deal earlier than then. He’s nonetheless eligible to increase with the Hawks through the 2025-26 season.

He’ll make $46 million in 2025-26 and has a $49 million participant choice in 2026-27. If he declines the choice, Younger will develop into an unrestricted free agent for the primary time in his profession.

After renovating its roster this summer time, Atlanta is ready to judge how a brand new group meshes collectively.

The Hawks spent the summer time surrounding Younger, a four-time All-Star, with defensive-minded athletes who can shoot and create. They traded for Kristaps Porziņģis, who will hit free company subsequent summer time and instructed The Athletic this week that he wish to play the yr out as an alternative of signing an extension. In addition they acquired defensive dynamo Nickeil Alexander-Walker and sharpshooter Luke Kennard. The trio provides to a core that already consists of Younger, potential All-Star Jalen Johnson, reigning Most Improved Participant Dyson Daniels, former No. 1 choose Zaccharie Risacher and up-and-coming huge man Onyeka Okongwu.

Fixing Younger’s contract scenario, whether or not it occurs in-season or subsequent summer time, is just not the one merchandise on the Hawks’ to-do listing. Porziņģis and Kennard are set to hit free company after this season. Daniels is eligible for an extension as properly, although he solely has till Oct. 20 to signal it. If he and the Hawks don’t agree, then he’ll develop into a restricted free agent in 2026 — although Atlanta is assured it’s going to maintain onto the 22-year-old, whether or not it indicators him this week or a yr from now, league sources stated.

Atlanta has excessive hopes for this season, when it’s going to attempt to end above the Play-In match for the primary time in 4 years.

Younger, who averaged 24.2 factors and a league-leading 11.6 assists per sport final season, is on the middle of these aspirations. He has averaged 25.3 factors and 9.8 assists over his first seven NBA seasons, serving to the Hawks to the Japanese Convention finals in 2021.