Hawks chilling bet on Trae Young is about to be tested

Trae Young is now under immense pressure after the Atlanta Hawks have finally assembled a contending roster around him, following years of struggles to build a competitive team. As a young star who has faced criticism for not being a winning player, this is his opportunity to prove his detractors wrong with the first legitimate playoff-supporting cast of his career.

However, this positive development is overshadowed by the possibility that Young could become a free agent next offseason. Contract negotiations between Young and the Hawks have reportedly stalled, leading him to prepare to play out the final year of his current deal in hopes of securing a maximum contract extension.

The Hawks are projected to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland, New York, and Orlando, but the front office may see a realistic path to the Finals. There is uncertainty about what exactly the team needs to see from Young to feel comfortable offering a max deal, especially in a weakened Eastern Conference where simply meeting expectations might be setting a low bar.

Compounding the challenge is the lack of roster continuity; the team is talented but has little time playing together. Young's longest partnership is with Jalen Johnson at 152 games, but only 72 since Johnson's breakout. Newcomers like Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels have minimal experience with him, and Kristaps Porzingis is set to debut soon, making it a difficult environment for fair evaluation.

With high expectations and no margin for error, the Hawks cannot afford patience in making franchise-altering decisions regarding Young's contract. This season presents one of the biggest challenges of Young's career, as he must lead the team successfully to secure his future.