The Atlanta Hawks have decided to part ways with their high-scoring guard Trae Young, coming to terms with the Washington Wizards on a trade that will send Young to Washington in exchange for a package including veteran CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert. This information was confirmed by a source familiar with the trade, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as the deal awaits formal approval from the NBA office.
The league has not yet finalized the trade, with the official review call scheduled no earlier than Thursday, in line with league regulations that prohibit teams from disclosing pending deals before approval. At a post-game news conference following the Hawks' victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night, Hawks coach Quin Snyder acknowledged inquiries about the trade but stated he was not at liberty to discuss the matter.
NBA insider Marc Stein was among the first to report that negotiations were nearing completion, with ESPN confirming the agreement prior to the official announcement. Concurrent with this news, the Wizards held out both McCollum and Kispert from their loss against Philadelphia on the same evening, while Young was seen on the Atlanta bench dressed in street clothes. During the game, Young exited the bench area multiple times, exchanging handshakes with fans as he made his way to the locker room late in the contest.
Trae Young leaves Atlanta as the franchise leader in assists, surpassing Doc Rivers, and in three-point field goals, overtaking Mookie Blaylock. He ranks fourth in free throws made and sixth in total points scored for the Hawks.
Power forward Mouhamed Gueye, a Hawks teammate, revealed he was unaware of the trade news during the game but expressed strong admiration for Young's impact on and off the court. Gueye highlighted Young's welcoming nature as a new player in Atlanta and described playing alongside him as an exceptional experience, calling him "an Atlanta legend."
Since being selected fifth overall in the 2018 NBA draft, Young ranks tenth in total points and twelfth in points per game among active players, leading the league in assists and assists per game during this period. Notably, he is one of only five players who have consistently been among the top ten in both scoring and assisting since entering the league. The other members of this elite group include Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, James Harden, and Devin Booker—all of whom have high-profile accomplishments such as MVP awards or Olympic gold medals.
Despite his production, Young has not garnered the same level of respect as these peers. He is a four-time All-Star, with two selections coming via fan voting and two others as injury replacements appointed by the league commissioner.
Interestingly, the Hawks have exhibited improved results without Young on the floor this season. They hold a 2-8 record with him playing and a 16-13 record without him. Examining his overall tenure, the team's winning percentage in games without Young is 49%, compared to 45% when he has played.
Young carries a player option worth approximately $49 million for the upcoming season and is eligible to sign a three-year contract extension with the Wizards.
CJ McCollum brings veteran experience, averaging 18.8 points in 35 appearances with Washington this season and 19.6 points per game over his career. The move to Atlanta will mark his fourth team, having previously played for Portland and New Orleans. Corey Kispert has primarily served as a backup over his five NBA seasons, all with Washington, achieving a career average of 10.9 points per game while shooting 38% from three-point range.