Atlanta Hawks Trade Trae Young to Washington Wizards
The Atlanta Hawks have made a significant move by trading Trae Young, a four-time NBA All-Star point guard, to the Washington Wizards. Reports indicate that the deal will see the Hawks acquiring veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert.
Interestingly, Washington was Young’s preferred destination, and negotiations were underway to finalize the transfer of the 27-year-old to the capital.
Currently, the Hawks sit at 17-21 this season, and Young’s agent had been actively discussing a trade to get his client out of Atlanta. It’s worth noting that Travis Schlenk, an executive with the Wizards, originally drafted Young fifth overall from Oklahoma State back in 2018.
This trade signifies the end of an era for the Hawks, as Young has been the central figure in their offense since joining the team. Throughout his eight seasons, he has set records for 3-point shooting and assists and has led the team to the playoffs three times, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
Meanwhile, Atlanta seems to be entering a new phase, with forward Jalen Johnson stepping up this season, averaging 23.7 points per game. The addition of Nickell Alexander-Walker has also positively impacted the team’s performance, as he has been averaging 20.5 points over 36 games.
On the other hand, Young has faced injury challenges, notably a sprained right MCL, which has limited him to just 10 games this season. He has been putting up averages of 19.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 41.5 percent from the field.
Looking ahead, the Hawks have mentioned the possibility of making further moves. With Anthony Davis reportedly available from the Dallas Mavericks, he could be a prime target for Atlanta.
Currently, Young is tied to a contract worth $95 million through the 2026-27 season, including a player option this offseason. The Hawks will also inherit McCollum’s contract, which expires at $30.6 million.
While Young has averaged 25.2 points and 9.8 assists over his career, he notably led the league with an average of 11.6 assists per game last season. The future definitely holds some uncertainty and excitement for both Young and the Hawks.
