Trae Young is on his way.
The four-time All-Star was traded by the Hawks to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, ESPN CEO Shams Charania reports this on Wednesday evening.
The trade buzz increased this week when Charania reported that Young’s agents had been in contact with the Hawks about exploring trade options, with Marc Spears adding that Young was “open-minded” about playing for another team.
As things appeared to be picking up on Wednesday, the global leader reported that Young’s preferred destination would be the Wizards.
He now gets his wish.
Young, 27, has played in just 10 games and is averaging 19.3 and 8.9 assists, both below his career averages of 25.2 and 9.8, respectively. He has missed the last six games due to a right quad contusion and dealt with an MCL sprain earlier this year.
After this season, Young, a 2021-2022 All-NBA selection, has a $48.967 million player option for 2026-2027 after notably not getting an extension from Atlanta last summer.
He now joins a Wizards team that is 10-26, 15th in the Eastern Conference and, at least before the trade, has a better chance of getting a strong lottery pick in the NBA draft than if he sniffs the postseason.
The Hawks (17-21) get McCollum (18.8 points per game) and Kispert (9.2 ppg) as they look to move up in the East standings. When they entered the play on Wednesday, they were sitting 10th in the conference.
McCollum will be a free agent after this season, while Kispert is under contract for at least two and a half seasons. He has a club option for 2028-2029.
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