Does Trae Young to the Washington Wizards Make Sense?
- Joel Piton
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
After a few weeks of speculation, the Atlanta Hawks’ eagerness to move Trae Young went from rumor to reality in the blink of an eye. Just three days after reports surfaced that Atlanta was actively exploring trade options, the Washington Wizards emerged as Young’s preferred destination—and almost as quickly, the deal was done. After eight seasons as the face of the Hawks franchise and a fan-favorite in Atlanta basketball, Young is headed to Washington in exchange for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum, closing the chapter on one era and opening another entirely.
Now, the former fan favorite finds himself in a new city much further from home, on a new team, and at a crossroads that feels far removed from any playoff ambitions at all. For the Wizards, this move signals a bold swing toward relevance. For Young, it represents both a reset—and a challenge. How much sense does this trade actually make for either side? Let’s break it down.
It’s been a rough start to the season for Trae Young. Limited to just 10 games, the Hawks guard posted near-career lows across the board, averaging 19 points and nine assists while shooting 41% from the field and a disappointing 30% from three. Persistent, on-and-off injuries kept Young from finding any real rhythm in Atlanta, opening the door for Jalen Johnson to emerge as a legitimate breakout star and potential first-time All-Star. To make matters worse, a lingering MCL sprain will delay his Wizards debut for an indeterminate amount of time.
Trae didn't leave ATL on a high note, but still, his peak shouldn’t be overlooked. At just 21 years old, Young erupted, averaging 30 points per game in his sophomore season, earning his first All-Star selection and establishing himself as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive engines. He also routinely sits at the top of the assist leaderboard year after year. Now sitting at career averages of roughly 25 points and nine assists, Young has never shied away from his true passion: playmaking. For all the volume scoring and logo threes, passing has always been what he loves most. An unselfish star who insists on putting winning basketball first, Young’s arrival in Washington raises an unavoidable question—why the Wizards?
Trae's frustration to capitalize in the playoffs has been made clear. The results speak for themselves: a first-round exit in 2022, another first-round exit in 2023, and then back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025 where the Hawks failed to win enough games to even qualify for the playoffs. It’s hard to believe that a player of Young’s caliber has simply grown accustomed to losing basketball, which makes going to Washington even more puzzling.
Atlanta, while needing help, is far from inferior. The arrival of NBA champ Kristaps Porzingis brings experience, floor spacing and versatility. Jalen Johnson has blossomed into a nightly triple-double threat and arguably one of the most versatile forwards in the league right now. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has surged up Most Improved Player discussions, erupting for a career-high 20 points per game, while Onyeka Okongwu has finally begun to fulfill his long-anticipated potential as a reliable double-double threat. This roster—on paper, at least—had enough talent to make a legitimate push to, at minimum, sneak into the postseason. So why walk away from that? Why trade a situation with upward momentum for a Wizards team sitting at the bottom of the NBA standings, a franchise currently viewed as one of the least competitive teams in the Eastern Conference? If winning is Trae's priority, this move demands more explanation.
From Washington’s perspective, the appeal is obvious. The Wizards are acquiring a skilled point guard who has always prioritized playmaking over personal numbers. At 27 years old, with eight NBA seasons and legitimate playoff experience under his belt, Young brings leadership, gravity, and offensive structure to a roster that badly needs all three. In theory, his presence alone should elevate a young Wizards group into something more organized and competitive than it has been. But in practice, this feels like a heavy lift. As they are now, it’s difficult to imagine Washington playing formidable, winning basketball anytime soon. The next touted player on the roster is Alex Sarr, a player with clear upside but one who is still very much scratching the surface. Beyond him and veteran Khris Middleton, the roster is filled with young players still finding their footing. Keyonte George has been a pleasant surprise, and Tre Johnson has no shortage of confidence as a scorer, but realistically, this is not a team on the brink of competing for playoff relevance.
If winning immediately was Trae’s primary motivation, this move is difficult to justify. But context matters. Washington has long been viewed as a last-resort destination for free agents—but that narrative could change. There's a good number of players in the league that would want to play alongside Trae, and his arrival could make the Wizards more appealing than they’ve been in years. If additional talent follows, this gamble begins to make more sense, albeit long-term.
As for the Hawks, they’ve already shown flashes this season that they can survive without Young. In return, Atlanta Hawks land CJ McCollum, a veteran scorer who averages 20 points per game for his career, and a sharpshooter in Corey Kispert. The move may also signal a shift toward making Jalen Johnson the franchise centerpiece moving forward. At this stage, it’s too early to declare a winner. Neither Washington nor Atlanta are playoff teams now, and while the Hawks may have improved their balance, losing an All-Star caliber guard is never insignificant. For now, this trade feels less like a victory for either side—and more like a bet on different timelines.
Will this trade ultimately pay off? Will Trae Young embrace the challenge in Washington, or quickly realize it was a mistake and want out by October? On the other side, will Jalen Johnson seize this opportunity and fully emerge as the face of the Atlanta Hawks moving forward?
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Thanks for reading!
-Joel Piton
(@jpiton7)