Wizards acquire Trae Young from Hawks in NBA blockbuster

Trae Young has been traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. The trade follows recent reports that Young's agents were exploring trade options with the Hawks and that Young was open to playing for another team.

Young, a 27-year-old four-time All-Star and former All-NBA selection, is currently averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists this season, below his career averages. He has been sidelined recently with a right quadriceps contusion and previously dealt with an MCL sprain this year. Notably, he did not receive a contract extension from Atlanta this past summer and holds a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season.

He joins a struggling Wizards team that holds a 10-26 record, placing them 15th in the Eastern Conference. Prior to the trade, the team was positioned more for a high lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft than for a playoff push.

In return, the Hawks acquire CJ McCollum, who is averaging 18.8 points per game and will be a free agent after this season, and Corey Kispert, averaging 9.2 points per game and under contract for at least the next two and a half seasons with a club option for 2028-29. The Hawks, currently 17-21 and 10th in the East, aim to improve their standing in the conference with this move.

#NBA #Trae Young #Atlanta Hawks #Washington Wizards #NBA Trade 2026