The Trae Young era in Atlanta is over, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The Hawks have agreed to trade their four-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards in a deal with guard CJ McCollum as the headliner. Forward Corey Kispert was also included in the deal.
The trade, which was agreed upon during the Hawks’ game Wednesday against the Pelicans, ends Young’s eight-year career with the Hawks. Young sat on the bench watching his former teammates before a member of the team’s staff escorted him to the Hawks tunnel at State Farm Arena.
Young’s stint with the Hawks began with a historic draft-night swap with the Mavericks. The Hawks held the third-overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, while the Mavericks picked fifth.
He went to the Hawks, where he averaged 25.2 points and 9.8 assists on 35.1% shooting from 3 over his eight-year stint in Atlanta.
The trade benefits the Hawks because it provides financial relief, with Young’s player option for $49 million coming off the books for next season. McCollum is on an expiring deal worth $31 million.
McCollum, a 6-foot-3 combo guard, is averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 35 games for the Wizards this season. He’s shooting 39% on 3-pointers and is a good fit with the Hawks’ playing style.
That’s where Young had somewhat become expendable. He’s been hampered by injuries for most of the season, and in the 10 games he’s played, the Hawks were 2-8. After four straight years in the Play-In Tournament, the outlook entering this season was much higher, following the additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard.
The Hawks haven’t lived up to those hopes, as they were just 18-21 following Wednesday’s victory over the Pelicans.
That doesn’t erase the nostalgia of losing one of the brightest stars in franchise history.
Young made a splash in the history books from his first year with the franchise. His 156 3-pointers in his first year in the league were the most for a rookie in Hawks history and the second-most in NBA history by a rookie aged 20 or younger.
He became the first rookie in NBA history to have at least four contests with at least 30 points, 10 assists and five 3s. He earned NBA Rookie of the Month a franchise-record four times, as well as Eastern Conference Player of the Week, becoming the only rookie in either conference to win the weekly award in the 2018-19 season.
Young carried that production through his sophomore season, averaging 29.6 points and 9.3 assists, while shooting 36.1% from deep. It earned him his first All-Star appearance — a start — of his career.
He went on to earn three more All-Star nods, including back-to-back appearances in the 2023-24 season, as well as the 2024-25 season.
Hawks fans also remember Young helping to lead the team on an Eastern Conference Finals run in 2021. It was the team’s first appearance in the conference finals since 2015.
That run began Young becoming persona non grata in New York City after he and the Hawks eliminated the Knicks in five games. Young solidified his villain status in the city that never sleeps after hitting a logo 3-pointer, then taking a bow.
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