Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks are actively working together on a potential trade, according to reporting from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
No specific destinations have emerged at this stage, and there is still uncertainty over how teams around the league currently value Young as discussions begin to take shape.
The dialogue between Young and the organization did not begin recently. Those conversations date back to this offseason, when Atlanta opted not to pursue a contract extension with the star guard.
That decision left the door open for future flexibility, especially since Young had a $49 million player option for the 2026-2027 season.
If he opts out, he would be in a position to enter unrestricted free agency, adding another layer of complexity to Atlanta’s long-term planning.
Young has been the face of the franchise since 2018, when the Hawks traded the third overall pick with the Dallas Mavericks and selected him instead of Luka Doncic.
That move determined the direction of the organization for years, culminating in Young leading Atlanta to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022 and earning an All-NBA nod that same season.
However, team success has been inconsistent since that playoff run. This season was also interrupted by health setbacks for Young.
He previously missed several weeks due to a right MCL sprain and is currently sidelined again, this time with a right side contusion, further clouding the immediate outlook as trade talks continue to develop.
Trae Young, Hawks team up on tradehttps://t.co/yFz53weOO8
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 5, 2026
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