Trae Young switches agents ahead of pivotal summer

The Hawks were eliminated from the play-in tournament by the Chicago Bulls, who proceeded to be eliminated by the Miami Heat. 

Young, 25, has two years remaining on his current five-year, $215 million deal. However, he has an early termination option for the 2026-27 season. 

Since being drafted by Atlanta, Young has been viewed as a franchise cornerstone. He's an elite playmaker. He has a limitless shooting range. And he can take over games on the offensive end. However, his defensive limitations have made it difficult for the Hawks to construct a contending roster around him. 

Changing agents will undoubtedly create some speculation amongst the fan base. Moving away from Klutch could indicate the Lakers are no longer in the running to acquire him. Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis are Klutch clients. The agency has a significant presence within the Lakers roster.

Nevertheless, Young could simply be making a change that he believes is best for his career. Still, if there is a chance he could hit the trade market this summer, having an agency aligned with his goals makes sense. 

Young has made it clear he wants to compete for a championship. He has stated he would prefer to do that with the Hawks. Yet, if Atlanta chooses to go in a different direction, there should be no shortage of interested parties. 

The upcoming offseason is an important one for both Young and Atlanta. Changing agents now could be the first move on the chessboard. A lot depends on how the front office chooses to proceed.