Trae Young era in Atlanta could end thanks to unexpected trade suitor

The Atlanta Hawks appear to be ready to get rid of All-Star guard Trae Young. His destination, and their trade return, might not be what anyone expected.

Marc Stein reported that the Hawks are discussing a trade with the 9-25 Washington Wizards centered around 34-year-old CJ McCollum and his expiring contract. It's a serious drop for Young, who has gone from franchise player to what might amount to a salary dump.

The Hawks have been better without Trae Young this season

Young has only played 10 games this season. He's averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists but shooting only 30.5 percent from three-point range and 41.5 percent overall, while missing time with a sprained MCL early in the season and with a quad contusion more recently. In games where Young has been able to suit up, the Hawks are 2-8. Without him, they're 15-12.

Young has been supplanted as the team's star by 24-year-old Jalen Johnson, who's putting up big numbers (24 PPG, 10.2 rebounds, 8.5 assists) as the Hawks' primary offensive weapon. Atlanta has had more success with summer free-agent signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker at point guard than Young. With Young on the floor, the Hawks have been 9.3 points worse per 100 possessions than with him sitting.

That's a big reason the Hawks are ready to move on from Young. Another reason is his big contract: $46M this season and a player option for $49M next season, one that Young is almost certain to pick up after his disappointing year. Four years after leading the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals and coming off two consecutive All-Star selections, his team now considers Young a negative asset and one they have to get rid of to make any other ambitious moves.

Going to the Wizards could work out well for Trae Young

While CJ McCollum, averaging 18.6 points and shooting 39.2 percent on three-pointers, should help the Hawks and give them salary flexibility, going to the Wizards isn't a terrible outcome for Young. He joins a team that's loaded with young talent — but not young point guards.

Last year's No. 14 pick Bub Carrington has struggled in his second NBA season. The Wizards have plenty of wing prospects, including Cam Whitmore and 2025 No. 6 pick Tre Johnson, yet only Kyshawn George is averaging as many as five assists. Young won't help the Wizards' defense, which is second-worst in the league, but he should be able to get Alex Sarr plenty of easy baskets and lobs and help the team play even faster.

For a player who was hoping for another maximum extension, it's a great place to rebuild his value, rack up impressive statistics and show that Young can be a veteran mentor. He won't turn 28 until just before the 2026-27, so Young has time to reinvent himself.

The Wizards would presumably get draft compensation from Atlanta in exchange for clearing salary for them, essentially pushing some of their massive cap space next summer — up to $100M — out to the summer of 2027, when the team might be closer to contending and actually needing free agents.

Still, it's an ignominious end for the Hawks' biggest star of the past decade. It's probably time for both Young and the Hawks to move on, but it's still a shock that it's ending this way.