Spurs just absolutely screwed the Hawks’ chances of keeping Trae Young

Information that the San Antonio Spurs and star level guard De’Aaron Fox agreed to a four-year, $229 million max contract got here as a shock to many throughout the NBA. Doubtlessly together with the Atlanta Hawks, who now might have a tougher time retaining star level guard Trae Younger.

Younger might have a look at Fox’s extension and anticipate the Hawks to interrupt the financial institution by providing him the same deal. In spite of everything, Younger is arguably higher than Fox and is even barely youthful than him, too.

Whereas Fox is far larger and much much less of a unfavorable on protection, Younger is an elite shooter and passer and is the centerpiece of a revamped Hawks staff that has an opportunity to make a deep playoff run subsequent season.

The Trae Younger contract state of affairs looms over the Atlanta Hawks

Younger will change into a free agent after this season if he and the Hawks cannot conform to an extension. If Younger calls for a max contract, then that may very well be a non-starter for the Hawks, who do not seem prepared to go that prime in negotiations.

Worse but, for Atlanta, they have not been in a position to get prime greenback in commerce talks for his or her greatest participant, placing them between a rock and a tough place.

In keeping with Chris Haynes, the Hawks have but to even provide Younger an extension, which is extremely uncommon contemplating that he can change into a free agent in simply 10 months. That implies that they’re taking a wait-and-see strategy, and that might come again to chew them.

The Hawks must tread rigorously with Trae Younger

In spite of everything, the longer they go with out extending him, the extra doubtless it’s that he might decide to take his possibilities in free company. Groups such because the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Warmth, and Brooklyn Nets all are anticipated to have important cap house and will probably lure him away from Atlanta.

Mockingly, the Spurs have a vested curiosity within the Hawks’ contract drama with Younger. The Spurs can swap picks with the Hawks in 2026 and personal their choose outright in 2027. They’d be doing backflips if Younger had been to depart in free company subsequent summer time for nothing, probably giving the Spurs a lottery choose to take the sting out of overpaying for Fox.

Atlanta has executed an unimaginable job remaking their roster, tailoring it to maximise Younger’s strengths and to reduce his weaknesses. However it does not actually make sense with out him. If Atlanta balks at his contract calls for, particularly after the Fox extension, then that may very well be sufficient of a motive for Younger to look elsewhere.