NBA Notes: Hawks, Trae Young, Warriors, Steve Kerr, Malik Beasley

Hawks

Rival executives speaking with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype believe Trae Young may ultimately have little choice but to exercise his $49 million player option for the 2026–27 season.

Young can become an unrestricted free agent next summer by declining that option. He could also sign an extension at any point that wipes out the option entirely.

For now, though, Atlanta hasn’t pushed for a new deal, and Young’s season has barely gotten started due to a knee injury that has limited him to just five appearances.

The Hawks are hopeful Young is close to returning and want to see how he fits with the current roster before making any long-term decisions, Scotto writes.

A strong finish could change the calculus, but league-wide skepticism remains until Young proves he’s healthy and the team gains traction.

Warriors

Steve Kerr doesn’t believe the Warriors need a roster shakeup to fix their inconsistency, even if this season has felt familiar.

Per The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, Kerr said Golden State’s up-and-down play resembles last season before the Jimmy Butler addition. The difference, in Kerr’s view, is that this time the solution is already in the building.

“Last year I felt like we had to make a move,” Kerr said. “This year I don’t think that’s the case.”

Instead, Kerr pointed to his own rotation choices, acknowledging how difficult it has been to juggle minutes on a deep roster. He said he feels comfortable playing 14 or 15 guys, but realistically can only use about 10 or 11 on a given night.

No matter how it’s sliced, Kerr knows someone is going to be left out, and he knows the questions are coming.

International

Partizan Belgrade remains active on the free-agent market.

In addition to previously reported interest in Malik Beasley, the Serbian club has also expressed interest in guard Cameron Payne, sources told Scotto.

Beasley, meanwhile, continues to draw attention from several EuroLeague powers, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, along with teams in China’s CBA, such as Liaoning, Guangdong, and Shanxi.

Europe is watching closely, and Beasley’s market remains very much alive.