Trae Young’s journey with the Atlanta Hawks has officially come to an end. The four-time All-Star has been traded to the Washington Wizards in a major 2026 deal that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to Atlanta.
Now, NBA insiders have revealed why Young and his camp quietly viewed Washington as an attractive landing spot long before the trade became official.
Wizards Were Always on Trae Young’s Radar
According to a report from David Aldridge, Sam Amick, and Josh Robbins of The Athletic, the Wizards stood out to Young after the Hawks declined to commit to him long term.
“In the wake of the Hawks’ decision not to offer Young a contract extension during the summer or this season, league sources say Young and his representatives identified the Wizards as a promising destination months ago.”
“Not only was Washington in need of a point guard for the future, but Young and his reps saw the franchise’s youth movement and roster flexibility as an opportunity to potentially build a roster that complements his skillset. If, that is, both sides decide this is a long-term partnership.”
From Young’s perspective, Washington offered something Atlanta no longer could: a clear future role. The Wizards lacked a long-term point guard, had plenty of roster flexibility, and were building around young talent.
Young and his representatives believed that Washington’s rebuild could be shaped around his strengths if both sides chose to grow together. Financially, the Wizards needed to add $6.2 million to complete the deal, which is why Corey Kispert became part of the final package.
Young’s Skillsets Fit With Wizards’ Requirement
Young, 27, had been Atlanta’s franchise player since being selected fifth overall in 2018, but things slowly shifted. Contract extension talks never gained momentum this season, and doubts grew inside the organization.
Those concerns were amplified during a stretch earlier this season when Young missed 22 games with a knee injury. During that span, the Hawks surprisingly posted a 13–9 record, raising questions about their long-term direction with him on the roster.
Young also holds a $48.9 million player option for the 2026–27 season, which added pressure for Atlanta to make a decision sooner rather than later.
For Washington, the move is a calculated gamble. Young immediately becomes the team’s top offensive weapon and finally gives the Wizards a true floor general.
He’s averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists, numbers that should help unlock easier scoring chances for young players like Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Tre Johnson.
The Wizards currently rank near the bottom of the league in scoring, and Young’s playmaking is expected to boost that output quickly. While Young’s defense remains a concern, Washington is clearly focused on building an offense-first identity during its rebuild.
At 10–26, the Wizards sit 14th in the East, but a 5-5 record in their last 10 games shows signs of momentum. Now they will head into a new era with Young running the show.
