Why The Trae Young Trade Had To Happen
The NBA is a league built on eras, personalities, and the shifting tides of team identity. Few stories in recent years have been as compelling as the rise and fall of Trey Young’s tenure in Atlanta—a saga marked by dazzling highlights, postseason heroics, and, ultimately, a franchise at a crossroads. Now, with Young officially traded to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, both teams have drawn a line in the sand, choosing direction over nostalgia, and fit over reputation.
This is the story of how Atlanta outgrew its prodigal point guard, why Washington was the ideal landing spot, and what both franchises hope to build from the ashes of a blockbuster deal that, while not seismic in assets, could reshape their futures for years to come.
Trey Young: The Atlanta Years
The Arrival of a Franchise Guard
Drafted fifth overall in 2018, Trey Young arrived in Atlanta as the centerpiece of a new, fast-paced Hawks identity. His ability to score from anywhere and orchestrate offense immediately electrified a fanbase hungry for relevance. By 2021, Young had become a villain in New York and a legend in Atlanta, dragging a young Hawks team to the Eastern Conference Finals and silencing Madison Square Garden with his iconic bow.
Young’s early years were marked by:
Unbelievable scoring outbursts (game-winners, buzzer beaters, deep threes)
Elite playmaking (no-look passes, pick-and-roll mastery)
Postseason heroics (especially against the Knicks and Sixers)
At just 22, Young looked like the kind of player who could cheat the system—a franchise guard who could single-handedly lift a team into contention.
The Plateau: Promise Meets Reality
But the NBA doesn’t stand still. After that magical run, Atlanta settled into a cycle of play-in games and first-round exits. Young kept putting up numbers, but something felt off. The offense was loud, but the winning was quiet. The Hawks were never bad enough to tank, but never good enough to scare anyone.
The cracks began to show:
Defensive struggles: Young’s size and effort made him a target, and Atlanta’s defensive rating plummeted with him on the floor.
Efficiency issues: His shooting dipped below 42% from the field and 30% from three.
Team chemistry: The offense revolved around Young, but the ball movement and structure suffered.
As the league evolved, Young’s margin for error shrank. The Hawks’ record with Young on the floor this season was a dismal 2-8, while they posted a respectable 15-12 mark without him. Opponents routinely hung 125 points on Atlanta when Young played, exposing the team’s lack of defensive backbone.
The Rise of Jaylen Johnson
While Young struggled to reassert control, a new star quietly ascended. Jaylen Johnson, a former first-round pick, added layers to his game every year—better reads, improved shooting, smarter decision-making. This season, it all clicked. Johnson became Atlanta’s best offensive player, and more importantly, the engine of a team that moved as a unit rather than orbiting a single star.
The Hawks’ identity shifted toward:
Length and athleticism
Ball movement and structure
Defensive versatility
Suddenly, Young was no longer the clear focal point. His entire value was tied to offense, and if he wasn’t the engine, the question became: what exactly are you building around?
The Trade: A Line in the Sand
The Final Goodbye
As rumors swirled and Young seemed to say his goodbyes, Atlanta made the move that had been foreshadowed for years. The Hawks traded Trey Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert—a deal that, while not a blockbuster in assets, was seismic in meaning.
For Atlanta, it was a choice of direction over nostalgia, of fit over reputation. The Hawks chose length, team basketball, and a future that doesn’t revolve around a single player.
The Return: What Atlanta Gets
CJ McCollum brings control, a steady hand, and scoring without dominating the ball. He’s a veteran who can guide the young core and provide leadership during a transitional period.
Corey Kispert offers size, shooting, and spacing—key ingredients for a team built around Johnson and other athletic wings.
This wasn’t about who Trey used to be. It was about who Atlanta wants to become.
Washington Wizards: The Perfect Landing Spot
Why Washington?
The Wizards have been in a perpetual rebuild, losing by design, stockpiling draft picks, and drafting raw talent. Their roster is full of intriguing, athletic players—Alexar (league leader in blocks), Bilal Coulibaly, Trey Johnson, and others—but what they lacked was structure. These young players needed a teacher, not a savior.
Trey Young is that teacher. He can organize an offense, run pick-and-roll like muscle memory, and get guys shots in the right places at the right time. He brings structure, something Washington desperately needs. And the best part for the Wizards: there’s no long-term risk. Even with Young’s contract, Washington’s books are clean. If it works, great. If not, they have flexibility to move on.
Trey Young’s Role in Washington
For Young, this is a reset button. There’s no pressure to contend, no need to pretend he’s the missing piece to a title. It’s a chance to rebuild value and redefine who he is in this new NBA.
Young remains one of the best offensive talents of his generation. His career averages and passing ability are elite. He can still control pace, manipulate defenders, and create something from nothing. But the league cares about fit, and fit is everything. Washington offers Young a fresh start, a new cast, and the opportunity to evolve his game off the ball, improve his shot selection, defense, and leadership.
The Fit: What Trey Young Brings to the Wizards
Offensive Structure
Washington’s young roster has struggled to find cohesion. Trey Young instantly elevates their offensive ceiling:
Pick-and-roll mastery: Unlocks athletic bigs and shooters
Shot creation: Gives teammates easier looks
Pace and spacing: Forces defenses to respect his range, opening lanes for others
Teaching and Development
Young’s experience and vision will help develop the Wizards’ young talent. Players like Alexar and Coulibaly will benefit from Young’s ability to set them up for easy buckets and teach them the nuances of NBA offense.
Flexibility and Future Moves
The Wizards maintain cap flexibility, allowing them to build around Young or pivot if the experiment doesn’t work. With a clean cap sheet and a roster full of young assets, Washington can continue to add pieces and adjust as needed.
The Atlanta Perspective: Building Around Jaylen Johnson
A New Identity
Atlanta’s choice to move on from Young is rooted in a desire to build a team that fits the modern NBA:
Switchable defenders
Multiple ball-handlers
Athletic wings
Less reliance on one player
CJ McCollum’s steady presence and Kispert’s shooting complement Johnson’s burgeoning skill set. The Hawks can now focus on developing their young core, adding depth, and building a team that moves as a unit.
The Risks and Rewards
There’s always risk in trading a franchise star, but Atlanta’s decision was about honesty—honest assessment of fit, timeline, and the direction of the league. The Hawks avoided cap hell, preserved flexibility, and positioned themselves to matter again in the evolving NBA landscape.
The Legacy: Trey Young’s Atlanta Chapter
Trey Young’s time in Atlanta will be remembered for its highs and lows. The iconic bow at Madison Square Garden, the deep playoff run, the electrifying offense—all will be part of his legacy. But the NBA moves fast, and teams must adapt or risk irrelevance.
Young’s challenge now is to prove he can evolve—off the ball, on defense, and as a leader. The Atlanta chapter is closed, but his story is far from over.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
Atlanta Hawks
Develop Jaylen Johnson as the centerpiece
Integrate CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert
Maintain cap flexibility for future moves
Focus on defense, ball movement, and team cohesion
Washington Wizards
Build around Trey Young and develop young talent
Maintain flexibility for trades and free agency
Use Young’s offensive skills to maximize roster potential
Give Young the chance to redefine his career
The Broader NBA Impact
This trade is a microcosm of the modern NBA, where fit, flexibility, and honest self-assessment matter more than reputation or nostalgia. Teams are increasingly willing to move on from stars who don’t fit their vision, prioritizing long-term success over short-term excitement.
As the league continues to evolve, expect more deals like this—where both sides benefit by embracing change.
Final Thoughts: One Last Chance for Trey Young
For Trey Young, this is the most important stretch of his career. He doesn’t need to prove he’s talented—the league already knows that. He needs to show he can adapt, lead, and elevate a team beyond just his own scoring.
The Atlanta Hawks have turned the page, and the Washington Wizards have opened a new chapter. Both teams are betting on their vision, their young cores, and the belief that the right fit can unlock greatness.
Only time will tell how this trade is remembered. For now, it’s a story of endings and beginnings, of honesty and hope, and of a league that never stops moving forward.
