Wizards acquire Trae Young from Hawks in NBA blockbuster
Trae Young is on the move.
The four-time All-Star was traded by the Hawks to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday night.
Trade buzz intensified this week when Charania reported that Young’s agents had been in contact with the Hawks about exploring trade options, with Marc Spears adding that Young was “open minded” about playing for another squad.
As things seemed to ramp up on Wednesday, the Worldwide leader reported Young’s preferred destination would be the Wizards.
He now gets his wish.
Young, 27, has played in just 10 games is averaging 19.3 and 8.9 assists, both below his career averages of 25.2 and 9.8, respectively. He’s missed the last six contests with a right quadriceps contusion and previously dealt with an MCL sprain this year.
After this season, Young, a 2021-22 All-NBA selection, has a $48.967 million player option for 2026-27 after he notably did not get an extension from Atlanta this past summer.
He now joins a Wizards team that’s sitting at 10-26, 15th in the Eastern Conference and, at least before the trade, has a better chance to get a strong lottery pick in the NBA draft than at sniffing the postseason.
The Hawks (17-21) get McCollum (18.8 points per game) and Kispert (9.2 ppg) as they look to make a move up the East standings. Entering Wednesday’s play, they sat 10th in the conference.
McCollum is a free agent after this season while Kispert is under contract for at least the next two and a half seasons. He has club option for 2028-29.
