After adding Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this offseason, hopes were high for Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite those expectations, Young’s injury-plagued season and the Hawks’ inconsistent performance have sparked discussion that trading Young may be in Atlanta’s best interest. While Young previously wanted to stay, that stance is now uncertain.
Looking at Trae Young’s Contract, Salary, and Net Worth as Trade Talks Heat Up
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday, the Hawks and Young’s camp are working together on a potential trade.
“Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young and his agents, Aaron Mintz, Drew Morrison and Austin Brown, are working with the franchise on a trade, sources tell ESPN,” Charania reported. “Young’s reps and the Hawks have started collaborative talks over the last week on finding a resolution.”
Just in: Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young and his agents, Aaron Mintz, Drew Morrison and Austin Brown, are working with the franchise on a trade, sources tell ESPN. Young’s reps and the Hawks have started collaborative talks over the last week on finding a resolution. pic.twitter.com/dUCNnDKqTt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 5, 2026
With Young’s future in doubt, one of the first questions is how the Hawks could make salaries match, as Young is on a sizable contract.
According to Spotrac, Young will earn $45,999,660 this season, the fourth year of a five-year, $215 million deal signed in 2022. He also holds a $48,967,380 player option for the 2026-27 season. Celebrity Net Worth estimates Young’s net worth at $50 million.
Young’s ability to opt out after the season could complicate trade negotiations, as teams may be hesitant to give up significant assets for a player who could walk in free agency this summer.
While Young has not formally requested a trade, the current trajectory for both him and the Hawks suggests that parting ways could be mutually beneficial, even if Young may not fetch Atlanta’s desired return.
Young is navigating the potential trade situation with caution, seeking to avoid the negative repercussions that befell other superstars such as Kevin Durant following his departure from Oklahoma City.
“I hear he’s trying to be really careful about this,” ESPN’s Marc J. Spears said. “This is a guy who saw Kevin Durant leave Oklahoma City as a kid and saw how that was, and he wants to continue, whether he’s there or gone, to have a connection with Atlanta.”
Spears clarified that Young has not explicitly asked for a trade, nor has he discouraged discussions.
“So, I don’t think he’s asking for a trade, but I don’t think he’s telling them not to trade him. I’m hearing he’s open-minded to being moved. He and (Kristaps) Porziņģis still haven’t really played much together, and we don’t really know what that looks like, but without an extension, but Trae seemed to be blamed for a lot of the things, fair or unfair, I do think he certainly would be open-minded to a new uniform.”
Young has appeared in just 10 games for the Hawks, averaging 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game. He’s shooting only 41.5% from the field and 30.5% from beyond the arc.
