The Washington Wizards have reportedly pulled off a blockbuster trade, acquiring four-time All-Star Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Young, 27, finally moves on from Atlanta after a long and contentious détente with Hawks’ management, and it comes just under halfway through what could be the final year of his current deal. Young is making approximately $46 million in the final guaranteed year of the five-year, $215 million deal he signed prior to the 2022-23 season.
That deal carries a player option worth just under $49 million for 2026-27, which Young could either opt into by June 29 or opt out of to become a free agent.
Young is, despite the truculence off the court, still a stud player who has had those four All-Star nods in seven full seasons. He’s averaging 19.3 points and 8.6 assists this season in 10 games – he has not played for the Hawks since Dec. 27 as they worked out his future – but was at 24.2 and a career-high 11.6 dimes last season in 76 games, and he has averaged just under a double-double (25.2 points, 9.8 assists) for his career.
McCollum, 34, was acquired in the three-team trade with Houston and New Orleans last July, and has averaged 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 35 games this season, while drawing rave reviews from GM Will Dawkins and head coach Brian Keefe on our airwaves for his veteran presence.
Kispert, 26, has played just 19 games this season around a hamstring injury, and has averaged 9.2 points this season – the first on the four-year, $52 million extension he agreed to in October 2024.
The move ends Young’s tenure in Atlanta and also helps the Hawks navigate their salary cap issues – McCollum is making $30.66 million on an expiring deal this year while Kispert is making just under $14 million on his, so they are saving just a little bit on Young’s salary this year (and doing so with two bodies) but will be saving about $35 million dollars next season.