It’s official: Trae Young is off to Washington.
After rumours that the star guard wanted a trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday that Young had been dealt to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
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The Hawks made major moves in the offseason to build a complementary roster around Young, acquiring 3-and-D guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker along with stretch big Kristaps Porzingis.
However, after seven years in Atlanta it quickly became clear that no matter what the Hawks put around Young, both parties needed a fresh start.
Charania later reported on ESPN that moving off of Young puts the Hawks in a stronger position to consider a move for Mavericks superstar Anthony Davis before the deadline.
Charania described the Hawks as a “prime trade candidate” for Davis, adding that they were incentivised to move off of Young now to clear money to offer a possible extension to the 10-time All-Star.
It has been widely reported that Davis prefers to be traded to a team that will sign him to an extension, with the 32-year-old eligible for a four-year, $275 million max contract next August.
Now, the Hawks are positioned to take on the “significant salary” that would come with trading for Davis, wherever that figure may land.
McCollum, meanwhile, obviously didn’t fit into Washington’s long-term plans and will add some much-needed outside shooting having gone 39.9 per cent from deep this season for the Wizards along with another ballhandling option.
He also presents the Hawks with even more trade flexibility as an expiring contract along with Porzingis, although only McCollum’s salary can be outgoing — he can’t be combined with any other salary in a potential trade.
Kispert, meanwhile, is a career 38.3 per cent 3-point shooter and will fit into Atlanta’s vision of building its roster around versatile wings with Jalen Johnson emerging as their new top option.
Dyson Daniels had also taken on more playmaking reps with Young sidelined and while he has had issues with his shooting this season, the Australian has taken a leap as a passer and will be leaned on more heavily in that department after the trade.
For Washington, it is a low price to pay for a distressed asset in Young who could thrive in a new environment.
Young, meanwhile, had reportedly singled out the Wizards as his preferred trade destination. It wasn’t as if the Hawks had much of a choice either.
While there was talk Atlanta could try wait it out until closer to the deadline in case another potential suitor emerged for Young, there didn’t seem to be much of a robust trade market for him.
That is understandable too as Young, while a dynamic offensive weapon, remains a defensive liability. His $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season would not have helped either.
While Young is expected to exercise that player option, The Athletic reported that he is still yet to make a decision on that front.
For now, Young’s focus will be on building a rapoport with Washington’s young roster which includes plenty of intriguing long-term prospects in Alex Sarr, Bilal Couliably, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington.
While all promising players, the Wizards lacked a true nuclues and point guard to bring it all together and the hope will be that Young is that player.
It is the exact kind of low-risk, high-reward move that could bring new life to a struggling franchise like Washington, who sit 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 10-26 record.
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