In a recent game against the Pelicans, Trae Young decided to not play and instead focused on his teammates and assistant coaches. He had just been informed of his trade to the Wizards as part of a deal involving CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, which was quite the moment to witness. It’s interesting to see real-time reactions, kind of like a rare glimpse that reminds fans of those intense moments in NBA trade seasons.
Luckily for Young and the local broadcasters, he seemed to welcome the change, making it a significant moment as the trade season kicks off for 2026. It’s fun to imagine how different the atmosphere would have been had cameras caught the reactions of players like Luka Doncic or Anthony Davis during prior major trades; perhaps those moments wouldn’t have had the same flair.
The separation between Young and the Hawks appeared to be inevitable, and everyone sensed it was time for a fresh start.
Young has been a crucial part of the Hawks for over seven years. His role was pivotal when the Hawks made it to two wins away from the Finals back in 2021. Trading him for McCollum and Kispert back then would have seemed absurd. But, a lot has changed. A failure to reach a contract extension last summer deepened the divide, along with the Hawks’ struggles, as they haven’t moved past the first round of the playoffs in the last four seasons, even missing the postseason entirely the last two years.
Looking at this season, the Hawks showed a poor record of 2-8 during the ten games Young played. He was sidelined for part of the season due to a right MCL sprain and then a right quad strain that kept him out of the final six games.
Washington emerged as Young’s chosen location for a trade, and the Wizards would be wise to pursue the four-time All-Star, whose skills could positively influence their rebuilding phase.
For the Hawks, shedding Young—who has a $95 million contract remaining through 2026-27—would provide significant financial relief, especially as they won’t be tied up with his $49 million player option coming up.
This trade brings McCollum’s experience and Kispert’s shooting talents to the Hawks, potentially allowing them some major moves in the future.
And it’s widely known that Davis is at the top of their wishlist.
Right now, the Mavericks are contemplating their options regarding Davis, following the surprising trade that transferred Doncic to the Lakers nearly a year ago.
The Mavericks aim to build around their first overall draft choice, Cooper Flagg, while Davis is seeking a lucrative contract extension—ideally something like a four-year deal valued at $275 million, regardless of whether that’s with Dallas or another team.
Yet, Dallas has been hesitant to commit to an extension for Davis due to his recent injury issues, which include a left adductor strain that sidelined him in his first game last season and ongoing groin and calf problems this season.
As the trade deadline nears, it seems Atlanta, Toronto, and Golden State are potential homes for Davis. However, Golden State seems unlikely to pursue such a move since they are resistant to trading key players like Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry is completely off the market.
So, keep a close watch on the Hawks in the upcoming month. They had high hopes coming into the season within the competitive Eastern Conference, but find themselves struggling with a record of 18 wins and 21 losses.
The first domino has fallen, and it could lead to quick changes ahead.
