The Atlanta Hawks traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. This whole thing was in the cards after rumors that Young, his representatives, and Atlanta were engaged in trade discussions on Tuesday.
Four-time All-Star guard Trae Young took to social media Friday morning to address "another opportunity" with the Washington Wizards as well as his time spent with the Atlanta Hawks.
Part of what makes the NBA, or any pro sports league, so compelling to watch is the narratives, especially those centered on rivalries. Throughout the decades, the NBA has fostered a number of rivalries, some long-lasting and others short but sweet.
The reporting surrounding a potential Trae Young trade heated up quickly on Jan. 7. ESPN’s Shams Charania announced the Washington Wizards as the four-time All-Star’s target destination.
The NBA had its first blockbuster trade of the season when Young was sent from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, and the four-time All-Star has now addressed the move.
The Washington Wizards have been blessed to have some legendary players be a part of their franchise. From Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld winning a championship with the Bullets, to Michael Jordan and Russell Westbrook having short stints in Washington.
Carmelo Anthony knows what it’s like to be traded as the face of a franchise, so he wasn’t surprised to see Trae Young face a similar reality. The 4x All-Star’s value continues to dip this offseason amid his injury issues.
While former Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas approves of the Trae Young trade, the franchise’s 2010 first overall pick, John Wall, another memorable guard, will be honored.
The Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks started the NBA trade season with a blockbuster deal on Wednesday night. Trae Young was traded his talents to Washington, with Atlanta receiving CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in return.
The Washington Wizards on Thursday announced a celebration of John Wall’s legacy. Wall’s legacy will be celebrated on Jan. 29 during Washington’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena.
The Washington Wizards have sent the NBA trade market into a frenzy after acquiring Trae Young for a relatively small price. With this blockbuster signifying the beginning of the trade season, Washington could be a heavy player in every deal leading up to the trade deadline.
The Washington Wizards' goals were clear when they first traded for CJ McCollum. He, unlike Jordan Poole, was on an expiring contract, and he had free reign as an on-ball scorer to build up his trade value and turn a profit before the midseason trade deadline.
Inside the organization, there’s confidence that the Wizards have the defensive personnel to help cover for Trae Young on that end of the floor. According to David Aldridge, Sam Amick, and Josh Robbins of The Athletic, Washington believes rim protector Alex Sarr and wing defender Bilal Coulibaly can help offset Young’s defensive limitations.
The Wizards still don’t know which path Trae Young plans to take. While rival executives have largely assumed Young will exercise his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, that decision has not been made, according to David Aldridge, Sam Amick, and Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
Trade discussions surrounding Trae Young's availability and his mutual preference with the Washington Wizards snowballed in rapid time, resulting in the 4x All-Star landing on a new team just two days after reports surfaced of the two teams' ongoing negotiations.
Over the past few years, the Washington Wizards have been a cellar dweller in the NBA. They have been quite bad and were never close enough to truly matter and contend for a title, let alone a playoff spot.
The Hawks have another name circled as they explore the Trae Young market. According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Atlanta has interest in Corey Kispert and would like to land the Wizards sharpshooter if the two teams ultimately complete a deal involving Young.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Wizards took down another playoff-caliber squad on Tuesday night behind a 23-point, seven-rebound, and five-block performance by second-year center Alex Sarr, exemplifying how far the young core has come.
The Wizards are the top team on Trae Young‘s list of preferred destinations, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who stated during an appearance on NBA Today (Twitter video link) that the Hawks have gained some traction in their trade talks with Washington.
The Washington Wizards have been playing some improved basketball as of late, still well below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference but finally resembling a competitive NBA team.
CJ McCollum scored 27 points and Alex Sarr added 23 to go along with eight rebounds, fueling the host Washington Wizards to a 120-112 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.