The NBA’s new league year will officially begin on Sunday and teams can make signings of players official and for the Atlanta Hawks, Kristaps Porzingis, Asa Newell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kinnard will be official members of the roster for the 2025-2026 season.
In addition to new players being official members of the team, the Hawks can also start taking steps to deciding as to whether or not they want to offer Trae Young an extension now, and if so will it be for a max contract or could they get their All-Star point guard to agree to a team friendly deal.
“What’s the likelihood that Trae Young resigns for a lessor amount?” 92-9 The Game’s Carl Dukes asked on Thursday as he and cohost Mike Bell discussed the Hawks’ future with Young and the chances of retaining his services without having to offer him what is expected to be a four-year, $228.6 million max contract extension.
“Is he happy with what’s going on,” Bell asked in response to Dukes as he noted the additions to Porzingis, Newell, Alexander-Walker and Kinnard and whether or not those signings are enough to entice Young to believe enough in the team being a contender that he would entertain signing a for less than the max.
“This year is kind of two-fold. To make a run and maybe get Trae (Young) to commit and maybe Onsi wouldn’t say it to us, is to see what Trae does with a better supporting cast,” Bell continued as he made a case for Atlanta to pursue signing Young for less than the max contract he can receive.