The waning impact, inconsistency, injuries, and questions surrounding his leadership ultimately led the Atlanta Hawks to move on from franchise star Trae Young. Atlanta dealt the four-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, receiving CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in return.
Young was arguably in the midst of the worst season of his career, and while the Wizards are clearly betting on his upside, one analyst believes he simply isn’t good enough to help Washington win anything meaningful.
Analyst Compares Trae Young To NFL QB Kyler Murray
Atlanta’s 2018 draft-night move for Young, which meant passing on Luka Dončić, was widely questioned, but early signs pointed in the right direction. Young became a four-time All-Star and led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.
That momentum, however, has faded as the Hawks haven’t made the playoffs since 2023. Young’s impact waned significantly this season, as the 27-year-old appeared in just 10 games amid injuries and inconsistency.
With Atlanta now pivoting to a new core featuring Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dyson Daniels, the Washington Wizards are betting on Young to spearhead a play-in push. But not everyone believes that the gamble will pay off.
“Trae Young is the Kyler Murray of the NBA,” said former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho. “He’s exciting, but you’re not gonna win with him.”
“He’s undersized, he’s good enough to be sizzling to make you think you have a chance…but he’s not the leader to actually take you to the promise land. And based upon his lack of size, and based upon on his lack of seriousness pertaining to the sport, you are not going to go as far you want to go.”
“Trae Young is the Kyler Murray of the NBA.. He’s exciting, but you’re not gonna win with him”
– @EmmanuelAcho weighs in on the recent Trae Young trade to the Washington Wizards
WE ARE LIVE IN THE SPEAKEASY RIGHT NOW ➡️ https://t.co/f4H3dQB55c pic.twitter.com/8aq8OHNvl0
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) January 8, 2026
Acho’s comparison draws parallels to Murray’s NFL career. The former No. 1 overall pick won Rookie of the Year with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 but has produced just one winning season and a single playoff appearance in seven years.
While Murray has shown flashes of brilliance, he has yet to win a postseason game and was eventually benched this season, leaving his future in Arizona uncertain. Similarly, the Hawks have failed to make the playoffs since 2023 and sat at 18–21 through 39 games before ultimately parting ways with Young.
However, unlike quarterbacks in the NFL, where patience is often limited, Young has an opportunity to reshape the narrative. The Wizards last reached the playoffs in 2021 and currently sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but if Young can elevate those around him, both Washington’s fortunes and his own reputation could change quickly.
