Trae Young traded to Wizards as Hawks acquire CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert
Trae Young was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert as teams await final league approval Thursday.
Overview
Who: Four-time All-Star guard Trae Young is being traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, per people familiar with the deal.
What: The Hawks will receive veteran guard CJ McCollum and wing Corey Kispert in a player-for-player exchange, with no draft picks reported.
When/Where: Reports surfaced Wednesday night during Atlanta’s game; the trade awaits the NBA’s formal review and approval, expected Thursday.
How: Washington held McCollum and Kispert out of their game as the deal progressed; Young did not play for Atlanta and was on the bench in street clothes.
Why/Impact: Young leaves as Atlanta’s career leader in assists and 3-pointers; Washington gains an offensive star while Atlanta adds veteran scoring and perimeter shooting.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the trade positively through editorial choices: elevating McCollum's upbeat quotes, emphasizing his strong stats and the Hawks' need, and using evaluative terms like "big news" and "shortest tenure." They prioritize player perspective and hopeful team framing while omitting dissenting takes or front-office context. Quoted praise is source content, but editorial decisions foreground it.
Sources (8)
FAQ
Reports indicate the Hawks moved Trae Young after seven-plus seasons because the team underperformed with him on the floor, especially defensively, and the organization appears to be redirecting its offense and salary structure away from a small, ball-dominant guard on a max contract.
The Wizards gain a four-time All-Star lead guard they view as an offensive anchor for their young core, believing his playmaking can help develop their recent first-round picks while taking an initial step toward playoff contention.
Young has roughly $95 million remaining on his contract through 2026-27, while the Wizards’ cap flexibility allows them to absorb his deal and still clear about $46 million in cap room for the summer, whereas Atlanta swaps Young’s larger long-term money for McCollum’s sizeable but movable veteran contract and Kispert’s more modest deal.
McCollum is a veteran scoring guard and strong perimeter shooter, averaging around 19 points per game on efficient shooting, while Kispert is a wing known for reliable three-point shooting and floor spacing, adding depth to Atlanta’s perimeter rotation.
Analysts suggest Atlanta could potentially reroute McCollum in a larger multi-team deal to pursue another star, while Washington, having opened a roster spot and preserved cap room, is positioned to continue making future moves as part of its rebuild.
History
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