Trae Young says goodbye to Hawks, welcomes potential move to Wizards
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ATLANTA — All-Star guard Trae Young used a Friday social-media post to confirm his exit from the Atlanta Hawks after more than seven seasons and to express excitement about an expected trade to the Washington Wizards.
Young, 27, wrote that Atlanta “never truly got to see our full potential,” citing injuries and other setbacks. He added that “the pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change” and called the next phase of his career “another opportunity.”
According to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Shams Charania earlier this week, the Wizards are set to acquire Young in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The deal has not been formally announced.
Young requested a trade through conversations between his representatives and Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh. He has $95 million remaining on his current contract, which includes a player option for the 2026-27 season.
Since arriving in 2018, Young became Atlanta’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (1,295) and assists (4,837). He guided the franchise to three playoff appearances, highlighted by a trip to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals.
The guard has battled a right MCL sprain this season and is currently sidelined with a right quadriceps contusion. Sources told Charania the Wizards do not plan to discuss an immediate contract extension and will first assess Young’s health once he is in Washington.
“I’m walking into this next chapter ecstatic, with my head high and my eyes forward,” Young wrote. “We move.”
Source: ESPN
