The Hawks’ future depends on Trae Young. Here’s why Atlanta must secure his $229M extension before risking their playoff hopes.

The way things have worked recently in the modern NBA is that star players no longer spend the early part of July sitting in conference rooms being wooed by a variety of teams with the hefty cap space needed to sign them in free agency.

Trae Young is like any working person and would certainly like a contract extension. He also seems to know that one isn’t likely coming from the Hawks this summer.