Hawks Send Trae Young to Wizards for CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert
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ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks on Thursday confirmed the trade that sends four-time All-Star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in exchange for veteran guard CJ McCollum and wing Corey Kispert.
“On behalf of the Hawks franchise, I’d like to thank Trae for how he embraced the city of Atlanta and represented the Hawks during his time here, on the court and in the community,” general manager Onsi Saleh said in a statement. He called Young “one of the great players in our franchise’s history.”
The deal involves no draft picks. Washington had been viewed as Young’s preferred destination, giving the 27-year-old an opportunity to join a roster centered on recent lottery selections.
Details of the swap
• Young leaves Atlanta after seven-plus seasons that included four All-Star appearances and last season’s league-leading 11.6 assists per game.
• Injuries limited him to 10 games this season because of a sprained MCL and lingering quad contusion.
• McCollum, 32, arrives on a $30.6 million expiring contract.
• Kispert, 25, is under team control through the 2027-28 season.
Cap ramifications for Atlanta
Moving Young’s $49 million player option for 2026-27 clears significant future salary. According to Spotrac, the Hawks now hold more than $70 million in expiring contracts and could open nearly $29 million in cap space this summer.
The franchise has shifted its offensive focus in recent months toward forward Jalen Johnson and a deeper rotation rather than a single high-usage guard. League sources have linked Atlanta to Dallas star Anthony Davis, and the added flexibility could facilitate that pursuit.
Washington’s new direction
President Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins had been searching for a veteran centerpiece for their young core. Young is reunited in Washington with executive Travis Schlenk, the former Hawks decision-maker who drafted him in 2018.
According to The Associated Press, Young said brief farewells to Atlanta teammates late Wednesday, exchanging high-fives before leaving the locker room. Hawks coach Quin Snyder declined postgame comment, citing league rules before the trade became official.
Source: Hoops Wire
