Trae Young’s time with the Atlanta Hawks seems to be reaching an end.
On Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Hawks and Young’s agents are “working with the franchise on a trade” involving the four-time All-Star.
And, NBA insider Marc Stein named the Washington Wizards as one team that could make a run at Young.
“The Washington Wizards have emerged as a legitimate trade destination for Atlanta’s Trae Young, The Stein Line has learned. The teams, according to league sources, have been discussing a trade construction centered around CJ McCollum’s expiring contract.”
Young has spent his entire NBA career with the Hawks after the Dallas Mavericks traded his draft rights in exchange for Luka Doncic during the 2018 NBA Draft.
Recently, Stein reported that the Hawks were becoming open to trading Young. The star guard is on the final year of his deal, but holds a $48.9 million player option next season, so it could be intriguing for teams looking for a star guard.
McCollum will be a free agent after this season, so it would be a short rental for the Hawks.
For the Wizards, they are toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but bringing in Young could be a big step as they aim for a rebuild with a likely top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. So, while it seems surprising on the surface, this could be a move the Wizards make in hopes of turning things around in DC for the next few seasons.
This year’s NBA trade deadline is February 5, so it could be a busy time full of Young trade rumors leading up to that point.
