Future NBA stories
The biggest NBA story to follow in the second half of the season.
The Atlanta Hawks have traded guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, a person familiar with the deal told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.
Young was in his eighth season with the Hawks, but signs that his tenure was coming to an end have become evident in recent months. He was the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (4,837) and 3-point shots (1,295).
Young has appeared in just 10 games this season and did not play Wednesday due to a quadriceps injury. News of the trade surfaced during the team’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, where Young was seen hugging members of the organization.
The four-time NBA All-Star is averaging 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game this season.
Entering Thursday’s game, the Hawks were 18-21 on the season and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. However, the Hawks have a 16-13 record when Young is not in the lineup.
The trade will keep Young in the Eastern Conference, joining the Wizards, who are 10-26 and 14th out of 15 teams in the conference standings.
Trae Young’s trade performance
wizard
Young has helped provide an offensive spark to a team that has struggled in recent seasons and has been without a superstar-level player on its roster since Bradley Beal left after the 2022-23 season.
Young is not known for his defensive ability and could be seen as a liability on that side of the floor. He will also become a free agent after the season and may have a player option for the 2026-27 season.
school year:B
hawks
McCollum may not be the standout player he was in Portland, but he will bring a veteran presence to the locker room of one of the youngest teams in the NBA this season. On the court, he played in 35 games, averaging 18.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Kispert played the first five seasons of his career in Washington. He played in 80 games in the 2023-24 season, but played in just 61 games last season and did not start. He started two of the 19 games he played for the Wizards this season. He averaged 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists during his career. Kispert did not play Tuesday due to a hamstring injury, and McCollum was also absent.
school year:B
