> At a Glance
> – The Atlanta Hawks have traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert
> – Young, a four-time All-Star, is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in just 10 games this season
> – McCollum brings an $18.6 PPG scoring punch and a $30 million expiring salary to Atlanta
> – Why it matters: The deal reshapes both backcourts as Atlanta pivots toward a new core and Washington gains a proven playmaker
The Eastern Conference landscape shifted Wednesday when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Trae Young is headed to the nation’s capital, ending his Hawks tenure after seven seasons.
Trade Breakdown
Atlanta receives veteran scorer CJ McCollum and floor-spacer Corey Kispert, while Washington lands the 27-year-old point guard who once guided the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.
No draft picks are swapping hands, keeping the transaction clean and straightforward for both front offices.
What Atlanta Gets
- CJ McCollum: 18.6 PPG on an expiring $30 million deal
- Corey Kispert: 39.5% from deep off the bench, 9.2 PPG
- Flexibility to build around Jalen Johnson (24 PPG) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (career-high 20.5 PPG)
What Washington Gets
| Stat | This Season | Last Season |
|---|---|---|
| PPG | 19.3 | 24.2 |
| APG | 8.9 | 11.6 |
| MPG | 28.0 | 36.0 |
| 3P% | 30.5 | 34.0 |
Young’s dip in volume and efficiency coincides with Atlanta’s 17-21 record and his own limited availability. Washington, sitting at 10-26, hopes a change of scenery rekindles the star form that once made Young one of the league’s most electrifying offensive engines.
He holds a $48.9 million player option for next season before unrestricted free agency, giving the Wizards a short runway to evaluate fit and future contract talks.
Key Takeaways
- Atlanta accelerates its retool around Johnson and Alexander-Walker while shedding Young’s max money
- Washington adds a proven primary creator without surrendering any draft capital
- McCollum’s expiring contract offers the Hawks cap flexibility next summer
- Young’s playoff experience could accelerate the development of Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Washington’s youthful core
The swap thrusts both franchises into new identities: Atlanta searching for its next marquee star and Washington betting that a fresh start reawakens Trae Young’s elite playmaking.
