Rivals suspect Hawks would listen to offers for Trae Young

Trae Young’s name isn’t on the trade block, but teams around the league believe Atlanta will listen.

Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that a rival executive thinks the Hawks will pick up the phone if calls come in. Young is 27. He holds a $49 million player option for 2026-27. He can become a free agent next summer. And there were no extension talks this offseason. None.

That alone invites speculation.

His MCL sprain complicates the timing. Young is out at least three more weeks. He led the league in assists last season but has opened this year slowly. Meanwhile, Atlanta has a young core that keeps showing flashes — Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher — plus the Pelicans’ unprotected first in next year’s draft.

“Atlanta is good enough to keep Trae and be good and make the playoffs,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “But with the pick and Jalen, Dyson and Zach, they’ll at least pick up the phone and listen when called (about Young).”

The Hawks are 3–1 since Young went down. Two of those wins came against the Nets and Pacers (a combined 2-14), so it’s not a perfect measuring stick. But internally and externally, the sense is the same.

Basically, both the Hawks’ front office and Young’s camp will see where this season goes before anyone talks numbers or trade value.

Young is eligible for an extension worth up to $230 million over four years.

Atlanta already has $55 million committed to next season for Johnson and Daniels, with Kristaps Porzingis’ free agency on the way.

Everything is on the table eventually. Nothing is urgent right now.