Bobby Marks details why the Hawks aren’t RUSHING to extend Trae Young 👀 | NBA Today

Bobby Marks details why the Hawks aren’t RUSHING to extend Trae Young 👀 | NBA Today

So, we’re in the middle of August Chenet and the Atlanta Hawks and Trey Young, they still haven’t reached an agreement on an extension. Remember, he’s been eligible since July for a 4-year $229 million deal. Our Sham Sharan has reported that the Hawks, they wanted to maintain flexibility, seeing what this team is before making those commitments to Trey. But it feels like we kind of know what this team is now. We also know who Trey Young is, right? Trey has consistently increased his assist totals each season of his career and he led the NBA this season with over 11 a game on the way to making his fourth all-star appearance. He also averages over 25 points per game for his career. He’s blending that deep range and the flare for the dramatic, you know, the ice tray dice tray that we all love. He’s one of two players in NBA history with career averages of 25 points and nine assists joining Oscar Robertson. legend that feat. And even with that, postseason success, of course, has eluded Young and the Hawks largely in their time together. They did make the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, but Atlanta has only won two playoff series in the seven seasons with Young on this roster. And a lot of that is outside of Young’s control, but it’s something that the Hawks brass could factor in here. As we say hello to Mr. Money Moves, our front office insider, Bobby Marks. Bobby, we just keep hearing about flexibility. The Hawks want flexibility. What does that mean and why is it keeping them from signing Trey to this extension at least so far? Well, there’s a couple things here, Malikica. I think the flexibility starts with the newness of this roster. I think although it looks good on paper, we still don’t know how good this Atlanta team potentially could be. When you look at a new front office in Anetle, their GM, Kristoff Sportzing, Nquille Alexander Walker, Luke Canard, certainly when you integrate Trey Young into that, they also have a decision to make with Dyson Daniels who’s also rookie restriction uh rookie extension eligible. So, I think if you’re willing to commit long-term, what does this roster exactly look like? I think you want a better feel. Remember, Trey Young is extension eligible till next June 30th, four for $229 million. And then Malik, I think from Trey Young’s perspective, you’re looking at this Atlanta team that’s projected to finish fourth regard uh per ESPN bet in the Eastern Conference, right? And you’re saying, “Wait a minute.” I’m looking at the market. We’ve got potentially 10 teams. We’ve got a third of next year’s teams that have cap space here. Am I willing to commit long-term if I’m not liking where the price is right now? So, I think this is going to be a a slow play as far as where both sides are going to go. I do I do think there’s a middle ground as far as reaching that commitment here, but I do think from Atlanta’s perspective, you’re looking, wait a minute, let’s see how this roster fits before we’re willing to commit long-term to Trey Young. Really quick, Bobby, it’s unlikely if they don’t reach an extension by the time the season starts, it’s unlikely that we’ll see this play out during the season. That would likely signify a pause button. Am I correct in thinking that? Yeah. I I mean, you never say never here, but I think what you would like from a player’s perspective, you want to take care of your business before the season starts. You don’t want to have negotiations. Um, a little bit different than Jimmy Butler last year in Golden State, but you don’t want extension talks during the regular season. That’s something to happen after the season concludes. Yeah, you would never want that type of extension tension perk. When you’re looking at this for Trey Young, do you think this is a mistake that the Hawks are making by not offering him that max extension right now? I do because I mean, what what else is out there that you’re going to get far as being an upgrade from Trey Young? You just you just highlighted what he’s been doing every year as his assists and he’s averaging 25 for his career. He’s on a he’s he’s on like one could say or argue that he’s on a he’s having a Hall of Fame type career if you look at the numbers and now you actually have the pieces around him that compleiments Trey Young Jaylen Johnson who I who I’m very high on. You have pesty wing defenders with lit. You go and get Alexander Walker who can provide that scoring off the bench or in the starting lineup. You get Luke Canard who is a knockdown shooter. And you look at what Trey brings to the table, he makes everybody around him better. So going to get his 25 and getting about 10 to 11 assists a night. What else are you going to go out there and get at that position? I believe that the Hawks need to get this done. And Per, you said it. If you look at the numbers and speaking of those assists, because everyone comes in and thinks, “Oh, Trey, he’s the scoring point guard.” But with the new coach and the new players, he’s been asked to do more passing. I don’t know if we have the graphic. Here it is. Thank you so much, JJ Joe and our amazing producers here. Every year of his career, he has upped his assist numbers. So, he’s evolving his game, not just relying on the shot, the deep range, but look, starting at eight all the way up to 11.6, constantly pressuring the best point guards in the association when it comes to the top of the categories of leading the league in assist. also points overall generated when you add his scoring. And I believe that this is an opportunity season for the Hawks because if you look at the landscape of the East, Celtics, Bucks, Pacers, Philly. How do we feel about those squads? Maybe there’s some question marks there. You look at Detroit, Orlando, they’re on the rise, but this is a team that is led by a veteran who has experience and who has evolved this game in some ways. And it’s also like the identity of the Hawks. Like if you don’t maintain Trey, like that’s a big choice. That’s a big gamble in a year where your team, if you play well, you can end up getting to the Eastern Conference Finals. So, I think that guy, that guy, that man, he needs he deserves, he earns his money. And Malikica, what do I always say that the great Kevin Garnett always used to tell me? You remember the one that’s fit for TV or the one that’s not for TV? Anything that’s possible? No, no, no. Don’t worry about it. Listen, he always says he always look at young great players to see if they able to go out there and get theirs and make others around them better. Chana highlighting that chart. He’s getting his and making guys around him better. Larry Markin is on his third team with the Utah Jazz and that has Utah’s been really his most productive when you look at his numbers. He won most improved in 2023. He was an all-star. But the Jazz, they have firmly said, “Nope, right now, even though we’re in the midst of a rebuild, we don’t have the right offer on the table.” So, Bobby, marketing has been a bit of a topic, as Chana has been really, really um covert in alluding to over the last couple of minutes. What kind of market is actually out there for a player of his skill set, 7 foot, can shoot. What are we talking about here? Yeah, it’s amazing how things kind of changed a year ago. Remember we were talking about Larry Markin and that date we had circled as far as to renegotiate and extend as far as when he could become trade eligible and he was not trade eligible last year. He’s entering year one of this max contract right now here. I think from Utah’s perspective, yes, there is a market for him, but I do think when you look at this roster and it is extremely young as far as what the Jazz are going to do, they need good players, right? They need to eventually turn the script a little bit as far as how they start building this roster out. Collecting draft picks, which they have 11 first in the next seven years, that is great, but I do think marketing can be a building block to build this around moving forward. I don’t disagree. He’s talented, but also like this is a long game type of situation. We’ll see how long it’s hard to keep players happy when they’re in that type of circumstance year and year and year. I believe Austin ain’t just going to hold on to him like a conversation. I really do. I agree with Bobby and Chana. But I do but but Bobby, let me ask you this. Could it be a possibility that he end up in Boston? Maybe Boston take a look at him. They lost Chris Pzingis. They lost Al Horford. I mean, you know what, Perk? Boston is interesting to me. And I know we’ve talked a lot about it, how much money they’ve saved, over $300 million, but eventually they they have to start adding pieces and look at that 2026 season. They’ve got that Anthony Simons um expiring contract, which is roughly 27 million. They’ve got a a six first round pick. Certainly, they can include this year’s pick. That’s the type of player that fits if you’re trying to take that gap year and then also add a piece for next off for next off seasonason when Jason Tatum gets back. This sounds like a challenge that the Utah Jazz are going to have to try to figure out here over the next couple of months. They are seeing Lowry Markin is entering the first of a four-year deal where he’s making nearly 50 million a year. So, it’s not exactly like it would be cheap to be able to move him. Uh, but speaking of issues, of problems, of challenges that players around the league have had to face, did y’all see this? Tyrese Maxi, we’re with you. And normally chef helps me use the can opener for my dogs. [Music] Tell me what I need to do. Somebody on here help me out. Show me how to work this thing. There needs to be some pressure when you when you tension. Yeah. You got to just snap it onto the side of the can, then crank. Although some are more difficult than others. It’s true. Could you have handled that one? Absolutely. But I’m just trying to figure out what kind of dog do we have, right? What happened to the dry dog food that come in the bag that you could just use? This is a wellbalanced meal here. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

On NBA Today, Chiney Ogwumike, Bobby Marks, Chiney Owgumike and Kendrick Perkins weigh in on Trae Young being eligible for a 4-year/$229M extension this summer and how much Lauri Markkanen could impact a contender.

0:00 Why haven’t the Hawks extended Trae Young yet?
3:15 Are the Hawks making a mistake by not extending Young yet?
5:52 How much could Lauri Markkanen impact a contender?
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