The Atlanta Hawks have traded four-time All-Star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert, according to ESPN. The Hawks drafted Young fifth overall in 2018.
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The trade concludes Young’s seven-plus season tenure as the face of the Hawks franchise and sends the 27-year-old point guard to Washington, where he will reunite with Travis Schlenk, the executive who originally brought Young to Atlanta through a draft-night trade with the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. Schlenk currently serves as vice president of player personnel for the Wizards.
A new direction for Atlanta
The Hawks, currently sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference with an 18-21 record, have struggled with Young in the lineup this season, posting a 2-8 record in games he played. The team has performed notably better during his recent six-game absence due to an injury.
The trade positions Atlanta to potentially pursue a significant salary acquisition in the coming months, with reports suggesting Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis as a potential target.
Young has $95 million remaining on his contract through the 2026-27 season, including a player option for next season worth $49 million.
Young’s legacy in Atlanta
Young departs as the Hawks’ all-time leader in three-pointers (1,295) and assists (4,837). He led Atlanta to three playoff appearances, including a run to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, where the Hawks fell to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks.
The point guard earned All-NBA honors in the 2021-22 season and made four All-Star Game appearances during his time in Atlanta. Young averaged 25.2 points and 9.8 assists over his Hawks career, leading the league in assists last season with 11.6 per game.
Young tied with Russell Westbrook for the second-most seasons averaging 25 points and 10 assists (two), trailing only Oscar Robertson (five). He also ranks second all-time in points scored or assisted per game at 48.1, behind only Luka Doncic at 48.9 — the player for whom he was traded on draft night in 2018.
This season, Young had been managing residual pain from an early-season right MCL sprain before the quad contusion sidelined him.
Sources indicate the Wizards will evaluate Young’s health upon his arrival in Washington, with no immediate extension talks expected between the two sides.
No draft picks were exchanged in the Young trade between Atlanta and Washington.