Brewing Trae Young drama could help Spurs if surging rumors prove true

Although they play in different conferences, the San Antonio Spurs are likely keeping close tabs on Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks have yet to agree to a contract extension with Young. That's all the more surprising considering that they have built a strong roster around Young this summer.

Those moves have made the picks they owe San Antonio worth much less than they were before. Nevertheless, if they let Young enter unrestricted free agency next summer, then he could very well leave Atlanta, helping San Antonio in the process.

Trae Young's contract situation could help the Spurs

According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, Young is disappointed by his contract situation (subscription required). Additionally, Chris Haynes reports the Hawks have yet to offer him a new deal.

That's excellent news for the Spurs, who can swap picks with Atlanta in next year's draft and own the Hawks' pick in 2027 outright. Ironically, the Spurs' decision to give De'Aaron Fox a max extension worth $229 million has likely hurt the Hawks.

Young could claim that he is better than Fox in contract negotiations and demand a max extension too, something that the Hawks clearly are reluctant to do.

With any luck, Young and Atlanta will have a disappointing 2025-26 season. That would give the Spurs a better pick in next year's draft. Next year's draft is stacked, and hopefully the Spurs will be the better team, allowing them to both make the playoffs without having to sacrifice draft position.

It could also dramatically increase the chances that he leaves in free agency next year.

Trae Young could inadvertently help the Spurs

If he were to leave, the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers would be potential landing spots. Spurs fans should hope so because that would make the Hawks'' 2027 first look all the more enticing.

With previous rumors of Young joining the Spurs prior to them trading for Fox, it would be hilarious if he still ended up helping the team. Even more so if Fox's polarizing extension forces Atlanta to decide between letting him walk or paying him the max.

Spurs fans can hope that the newfound uncertainty regarding his future with the Hawks will help San Antonio as they begin their climb to contention.

All told, the Spurs should be crossing their fingers that Young and the Hawks remain far apart on contract extensions. If they do and he leaves next summer, then the Spurs would be the ones who benefit.