The Atlanta Hawks are trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, multiple outlets reported Wednesday night, ending the four-time All-Star’s seven-plus year run as the face of the franchise.
The Wizards and Hawks announced the deal shortly after Young posted a farewell to Atlanta on social media.
How the trade works
The deal is built around Young, who has one fully guaranteed year left on his contract and would have become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
- Hawks receive: CJ McCollum (a 14-year veteran guard who spent 2025-26 in Washington after a midseason trade from New Orleans), Corey Kispert (a 26-year-old wing), and future considerations
- Wizards receive: Trae Young and a 2026 first-round pick swap
- Salary impact: Atlanta clears meaningful cap space for next summer and positions itself below the second apron
The deal had not been formally approved by the NBA at the time of Young’s post, but league sources confirmed the framework to ESPN and The Athletic shortly before 11 p.m. ET.
What it means for Atlanta
The Hawks spent most of 2025 leaning on a Trae-less identity. Young played in just five games this season before an MCL sprain sidelined him for 23 games. In that stretch, Atlanta went 15-13 without him — and just 2-8 when he played — leaning instead on the emergence of Dyson Daniels and a resurgent Clint Capela.
That data, more than any single on-court moment, appears to have made the decision for Atlanta’s front office. The team opted not to extend Young during the 2025 offseason, despite knowing he could leave as a free agent in 2026.
The trade also gives Atlanta significant financial flexibility to pursue a star trade target this summer — with Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis widely reported to be at the top of the Hawks’ wish list — ahead of a 2026 first-round pick that is the more favorable of New Orleans’ and Milwaukee’s selections.
What it means for Washington
The Wizards, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive year, get the player they wanted most: an All-Star-caliber lead guard who requested the trade and chose Washington as his preferred destination.
Young, 27, will join a young Wizards core that includes Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr, and is expected to make his debut at Capital One Arena on Saturday.
What Young said
In a post to his social media accounts Wednesday night, Young thanked Atlanta and wrote that “it’s time to see what’s possible when the support is real and the vision is clear.” He did not directly address trade rumors or the Hawks’ decision-making, but the post landed as a clear goodbye.
“To Atlanta — thank you. Seven years. Four All-Star games. A run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Some of the best fans in the league. This city made me.”
— Trae Young, on social media
What Hawks coach Quin Snyder said
Speaking after Wednesday’s win over the Pacers — a win Quin Snyder coached without Young in uniform — the Hawks head coach was measured.
“I know you all have questions for me that right now I’m not at liberty to talk about or answer,” Snyder said. “When the league approves the deal, we’ll have more to say.”
Snyder is expected to address reporters again Friday, after the Wizards’ medical staff clears Young and the trade becomes official.
What’s next for the Hawks
Atlanta’s next game is Friday night at home against the Boston Celtics. Kispert, who shot 41% from three last season in Washington, is expected to be available relatively quickly. McCollum, who suffered a thumb injury in November but played through it, will need a full physical before being cleared.
The Hawks enter Friday at 17-21, four games back of the play-in cutoff in the Eastern Conference.
Jordan Reyes covers the Hawks, Falcons, Braves, and Atlanta United for WACN 21. Reach him at jreyes@wacn21.com.
