Trae Young Traded to Washington Wizards

Trae Young has long been the centerpiece of the Atlanta Hawks, ever since he was picked in a draft-day trade for Luka Doncic back in 2018. However, after failing to reach a contract extension last summer, their relationship started to decline, ultimately leading to his trade.

On Wednesday night, the Hawks sent Young to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, as confirmed by ESPN’s Shams Charania. It’s a stark reminder of the business aspect of sports. Once a four-time All-Star, Young’s market value took a hit due to a hefty contract and lingering issues, resulting in him being traded for essentially just his expiring salary and a bench player. Quite the unexpected turn of events.

There are already whispers that the Hawks might be considering trading Anthony Davis following this move. So, let’s break down this deal for both teams.

Wizards’ Perspective on Trae Young Trade

Bringing Young into the fold makes sense for the Wizards, especially since former Atlanta GM Travis Schlenk, who initially drafted Young, is now in Washington’s front office. With the Wizards undergoing a rebuild, adding a dynamic scorer is a strategic move after focusing on play-finishers in recent drafts.

Young could very well still be a force in the NBA. His performance may have dipped recently, but he still ranks impressively in offensive metrics, having been a leader in assists the last two seasons with a noteworthy assist rate. While his scoring efficiency isn’t stellar and his 3-point shooting is merely average, his ability to create opportunities for himself and others raises significant difficulties for opposing teams.

The Wizards have several young athletes who could benefit from Young’s skills. For instance, Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in 2024, has shown substantial improvement and looks promising as a two-way player. Young has the potential to set him up for easy baskets, whereas other rookies like Tre Johnson could leverage Young’s playmaking to enhance their shooting opportunities. There’s also an exciting young core in players like Kishawn George and Bilal Koulibaly that could mesh well with Young’s game.

Nevertheless, Young has obvious challenges. Standing among the shorter players in the league, he struggles defensively and tends not to contribute when the ball isn’t in his hands. His defense has been notably subpar this season, and a lack of length and strength often makes him an easy target. While he dominates the ball, this can create a singular style of play that may not suit every team.

That said, the Wizards taking this chance seems like a solid decision. They can’t afford to be in rebuilding mode endlessly, and their prospects for upcoming drafts don’t seem enticing. This trade may not disrupt their future tanking efforts, especially since their first-round pick is safeguarded in the top eight. So perhaps, making a strategic move now could bring them some luck in the lottery.

Young is indeed a significant talent in his prime. It raises the question of whether the subdued interest in trade discussions might affect his potential max extension with Washington. Regardless, adding Young is a considerable boost for the Wizards, and they aren’t giving up much in return.

Hawks’ Grade on the Trae Young Trade

The return for the Hawks isn’t particularly exciting. McCollum is on a deal that’s about to expire, and Kispert is a decent shooter but not much else to write home about.

This seems like the Hawks simply wanted to move on from Young, especially with his hefty $49 million player option looming next season. Interestingly, the team performed better when Young missed quite a few games—struggling significantly with him on the floor compared to when he was sidelined. With Jalen Johnson progressing into a potential All-Star and the chance to acquire a top prospect from the D’Eriq Queen trade, it appears the Hawks are looking to clear cap space and reset their roster.

They seem unwilling to commit large sums to Young moving forward. This strategy feels questionable, particularly since the Hawks lack appealing options in their half-court offense. They sold Young at a low point in his career, and while this move might pave the way for a star like Anthony Davis, the Hawks will need some luck with their upcoming picks to truly capitalize.