Hawks trade Trae Young to Wizards in midseason blockbuster reset

ATLANTA - In a midseason blockbuster that marks the end of an era in Atlanta, the Washington Wizards have acquired four-time All-Star guard Trae Young from the Hawks.

Hawks end of Trae Young era

What we know:

The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to trade the four-time All-Star guard to the Washington Wizards in a midseason blockbuster finalized Wednesday night. In exchange for the high-scoring playmaker, the Hawks will receive veteran guard C.J. McCollum and forward Corey Kispert, according to a person with knowledge of the move who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The trade serves as a massive reset for both franchises just weeks before the February trade deadline. While Young was on the bench in street clothes for the Hawks’ win over New Orleans on Wednesday, the Wizards held McCollum and Kispert out of their loss in Philadelphia as the final details were settled.

Trae Young trade deal

Dig deeper:

The deal was structured to satisfy Atlanta's desire for financial flexibility and Washington’s search for a new franchise centerpiece. By moving Young, the Hawks successfully cleared his $49 million player option for next season, gaining approximately $40 million in cap space.

This financial room allows Atlanta to fully build around breakout star Jalen Johnson, who has been averaging near a triple-double this season. The shift also follows a statistical trend: the Hawks have been better without Young this year, going 16-13 in his absence compared to a 2-8 record when he played.

Young's legacy in Atlanta and move north

What's next:

Since entering the league as the No. 5 pick in 2018, Young has been one of the NBA's most prolific offensive engines. He currently ranks:

1st in total assists and assists per game.

10th in total points and 12th in points per game.

Despite these elite numbers, Young has often faced criticism and has not always garnered the same level of respect as peers like Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic. This season has been particularly difficult, as injuries limited him to just 10 games and his lowest production since his rookie year.

For Washington, the move represents a major gamble on a 27-year-old star. Young is expected to take over as the "lead engine" for the Wizards, growing alongside the team's young core.