Trae Young’s Farewell to Atlanta
Trae Young’s recent message to Atlanta carried some unexpected undertones after his trade to the Washington Wizards during a game on Wednesday. In a social media post, the four-time All-Star reflected on the “situation that doesn’t make sense” and the “pain of staying the same.”
“I never thought I’d be writing this…The past few years haven’t unfolded as I envisioned,” said the 27-year-old. “The expectations we set for ourselves have reached heights that Atlanta has never seen before.”
“My ultimate goal was to bring a championship to Atlanta. Yet, due to injuries, setbacks, and, well, circumstances beyond control, we never quite tapped into our full potential. This city shaped me and taught me so much. It will always be a part of my journey…”
He added, “In the end, the pain of remaining stagnant outweighed the fear of change. While change can be daunting, I view it as a fresh opportunity.”
“I’m keeping my head held high, eager for the next chapter. It’s time to discover what’s possible when the support is genuine and the vision is focused. We’re moving forward.”
Young also posted a photo of his new No. 3 Washington jersey hanging in his locker at Capital One Arena, writing, “It’s official.”
This trade announcement kicked off the NBA’s trade season during the Hawks-Pelicans game. Young, who was listed as injured due to a quadriceps contusion, was seen on social media leaving the bench and heading to the locker room after the news broke.
Atlanta made the move to acquire running backs CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in the trade.
The writing had been on the wall: the Hawks, who drafted Young with the fifth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, chose not to extend his contract this offseason.
For the upcoming game against the Nuggets, the Hawks noted in their injury report: “I’m not with the team.” The trade deal wasn’t finalized until Friday.
On Thursday, the Hawks shared a tribute video showcasing some of Young’s highlights from his nearly eight seasons with the team.
“One of the most remarkable chapters in Hawks history,” the team stated. “Thank you, Trae.”
Young, who has been a leader in assists in the league, only played 10 games for Atlanta this season due to his quadriceps injury.
Fans may have to wait a bit longer to see Young in action for the Wizards. One league executive suggested that Washington would likely take a conservative route with his rehabilitation to avoid the risk of losing a top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick to the Knicks.
