No more playing! Right knee collateral ligament sprain! Another NBA star suddenly sidelined

Insider Shams:Trae Young has sustained a sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and will undergo a follow-up examination in four weeks.

This season, Young has been averaging 27.8 minutes per game, putting up 17.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists, with shooting splits of 37.1%, 19.2%, and 82.1%. Last season, he posted stellar stats of 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 11.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 41.1%, 34%, and 87.5% from the three categories.

Clearly, Young’s start to this season has been far from ideal. During his absence, perhaps the Hawks might manage to achieve better results...

This offseason,Trae Young became eligible for a maximum four-year, $229 million supermax extension. If he makes an All-NBA team this season, he could sign a five-year, $350 million supermax deal next summer. However, the Hawks have not yet offered him the full max extension, which has left him noticeably frustrated.

The failed extension might be one reason for Young’s poor performance this season. Feeling displeased naturally affects his output. His current contract expires in summer 2027, with combined salaries of $94.97 million over the past two seasons. Next summer, he holds a player option allowing him to decline and enter free agency early.

Therefore, Trae Young is a major trade asset in today’s market. Even if the Hawks don’t want to re-sign him, they certainly don’t want to lose him for nothing and can use him to acquire significant assets for future rebuilding.

Born on September 19, 1998, Young is a 27-year-old, 1.85-meter point guard. In his sophomore year, he averaged 29.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 1.1 steals. In his junior year, he led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. Recently, he has shifted focus toward playmaking, recording double-digit assists for three consecutive seasons and winning the assists title in 2024-25 with 11.6 assists per game.

Despite Young’s impressive individual stats, the team’s performance has declined year after year. The Hawks have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons, which is why the management has hesitated to commit to a long-term max extension, instead allowing trade rumors to circulate.

In competitive sports, performance is king. When a player fails to deliver their expected value, they face the harsh reality of being replaced without mercy.