The Altanta Hawks have apparently drawn a line under the Trae Young chapter. How ESPN Reportedly, the Hawks are trading the star guard to the Washington Wizards.
According to league insider Shams Charania, the Wizards are trading for eccentric playmaker CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. This is the end of an era in Atlanta: Young has been the face of the franchise since he was selected fifth overall in the 2018 draft.
But the 27-year-old has been controversial for years, with a lack of success, especially in the postseason, despite immense efforts to provide the point guard with a powerful team. Except for a run into the 2021 Conference Finals, the teams under Young’s leadership were never really able to convince.
Now a new beginning is to follow in the US capital – the point guard’s preferred destination. But only when Young is fit for action again. The four-time All-Star is dealing with a bruised thigh that has caused him to miss the last six games.
Due to various injuries, Young has only made ten appearances this season, in which he posted numbers as weak as his rookie year (19.3 points, 8.9 assists).
Hawks want another star player
Young earns $46 million this season and holds a player option for 2026/27 for $49 million. Nevertheless, according to Sharania, the Wizards believe they have taken the next step in the organization’s development process as part of their rebuild.
With McCollum, Atlanta is getting a veteran for the young team, whose $30.6 million contract expires at the end of the season. This gives the Hawks financial flexibility to land a star player in the coming months.
Currently, the Hawks, contrary to the great ambitions with which they started the season – and despite a 117:100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the evening – only have a record of 18-21 and are therefore in ninth place in the East. Washington (10-26) is second to last after a 110:131 win at the Philadelphia 76ers.
