Hawks have a brewing Trae Young dilemma that will make-or-break their future

The Atlanta Hawks have made significant offseason moves, starting with front office changes by firing general manager Landry Fields and promoting Onsi Saleh. Their roster transactions include trading for Kristaps Porzingis to bolster the frontcourt, acquiring him on an expiring contract while shedding Terance Mann's burdensome contract. In free agency, they added wing depth through a sign-and-trade for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, a coveted 3-and-D player. The Hawks also drafted Asa Newell, further building their young core.

These moves aim to add size, defense, and athleticism around star guard Trae Young, complementing the return of Jalen Johnson. The organization is positioning itself to contend in the Eastern Conference next season and is giving Young another opportunity to prove himself as the franchise player. This comes after four consecutive play-in tournament appearances and missing the playoffs entirely in the last two seasons, despite Young maintaining strong individual statistics—consistently averaging around 24 points and nine assists per game, including leading the NBA in total assists last season.

Atlanta's previous season was derailed when Jalen Johnson suffered a shoulder injury while performing at an All-Star level. During Johnson's absence, Young's scoring and assists remained high, but he averaged five turnovers per game and shot only 29% from three-point range, contributing to an 18-19 record post-injury. Young is now eligible for a contract extension this offseason, though indications suggest both sides may delay discussions.

Future financial considerations loom large, as the Hawks must prepare to offer significant contracts to Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels (coming off a career season). This could potentially put three players (including Young) on max contracts—a challenging scenario under the NBA's restrictive second apron rules.

The upcoming season is critical for Young and the Hawks, with the Eastern Conference appearing wide open due to injuries affecting rivals like Boston (Jayson Tatum) and Indiana (Tyrese Haliburton), and other contenders facing questions. If Young cannot lead Atlanta on a substantial playoff run, his future with the franchise will become a major storyline next summer.