The reason Trae Young is aiming to leave the Hawks in the NBA

The situation of Trae Young with the Atlanta Hawks has been closely monitored for several weeks. The franchise star from Georgia did not renew in the summer and his contract ends at the conclusion of the current 2025/26 NBA season. The worst part is that it seems an extension will not be granted.

As ESPN points out in the NBA Rumors, the Hawks have yet to make significant progress in contract extension talks with their star point guard, who could be entering his final year before becoming a free agent.

Young, a four-time All-Star, is earning $46 million this season and holds a $49 million player option for the next, giving him the opportunity to test the market in the summer of 2026 if a prior agreement is not reached. However, both the franchise and the player's circle maintain a cautious stance, aware that determining the player's true value at this stage of his career is not easy.

An undeniable talent, but with uncertainties

Individually, Trae Young's numbers continue to be outstanding. Last season, he led the league in assists per game (11.6) and remained one of the primary offensive threats in the East. However, the Hawks have not been able to translate his talent into team success, averaging just 40 wins per season over the past four years and without a positive record since the 2021-22 campaign.

This duality—brilliant individually, but with inconsistent team results—is one of the main reasons why the Atlanta leadership is uncertain about committing to a max extension. If they do, the deal would be around $230 million over four seasons, with an average of $58 million annually, significantly impacting the team's salary flexibility.

Furthermore, management must also consider the team's financial future, with Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels signing extensions totaling 55 million starting next year and the potential free agency of Kristaps Porzingis, who could seek a new long-term contract.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La razón por la que Trae Young apunta a irse de los Hawks en la NBA