Wizards Announce Trae Young Plan After Hawks Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jan 9, 2026 6:00 PM ET

Trae Young grabbed headlines on Wednesday after the Atlanta Hawks agreed on a blockbuster trade for the four-time All-Star. Young has now brought his talents to the Washington Wizards , who sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Hawks as part of the deal.

Young, however, has been out of action since Dec. 27 due to a quad injury. He missed the last seven games for the Hawks and has also already been ruled out for Washington’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

As of right now, there is still no word on when Young will be able to make his debut for his new team.

Former Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

There have been reports that the Wizards plan to hold Young out this season to allow him to properly recover from his injuries. Apart from a contusion in his right quad, the 27-year-old is also dealing with an MCL sprain in his right knee.

Washington currently holds a 10-26 record and is not expected to be a playoff contender this season, giving them ample motivation to give their new star as much time as he needs to recover.

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe was asked about this prospect on Friday ahead of their game against New Orleans. According to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, the Wizards coach said the team’s primary focus is getting Young healthy before determining a potential return date.

Keefe’s statement appears to align with the reports about Young not playing much this season. It was an open-ended statement from the Wizards coach, who has indicated that the team is in no rush to bring Young back into the fold.

Either way, until Washington makes an announcement about a long-term injury absence, Young’s status can be considered day-to-day. His next chance to make his Wizards debut would be on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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