Report: Trae Young's Camp Once Viewed Him As An Optimal Potential Partner For Victor Wembanyama

A year ago, the Atlanta Hawks chose to keep All-Star point guard Trae Young amid trade rumors, instead trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. That trade netted the Hawks Dyson Daniels and two first-round picks, with Daniels later winning the NBA's Most Improved Player award and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Last summer, the San Antonio Spurs were linked to Young as they sought a point guard to pair with Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs held the Hawks' draft picks for 2025, 2026, and 2027, making a potential partnership plausible. Sources indicated Young's camp, then represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, viewed him as an ideal playmaking partner for Wembanyama. Paul reportedly aimed to place a Klutch All-Star guard (Young, De'Aaron Fox, or Darius Garland) in San Antonio. Fox's contract situation, starting a year earlier than Young's, contributed to urgency in resolving Fox's future first.

Despite offseason trade rumors, the Hawks are now focused on contending in the Eastern Conference. They acquired Kristaps Porzingis via trade and signed Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, Nikola Djurisic, and Caleb Houstan, aiming for a top-four seed. Success could position Young for a major contract extension next summer.

However, league sources report no plans for Young and the Hawks to engage in extension talks this summer. Unlike Luka Dončić and Fox, Young wasn't traded before February's deadline, creating a different landscape in Atlanta. Sources indicate Young's side has been resigned to playing out the final guaranteed year of his current contract rather than securing an extension exceeding $200 million. He will then need to decide on his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season.

It is clarified that Young is not actively pushing to leave Atlanta. The Hawks have bolstered the roster with two-way wings and Porzingis, a new high-caliber pick-and-pop partner Young hasn't played with before. Young's reported disappointment stems from the Hawks never initiating extension talks. Sources say Young is confident in leading the Hawks back to the playoffs, which could become a meaningful point for future extension discussions.