The Atlanta Hawks have traded star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The deal, announced on January 9, 2026, ends Young's nearly eight-season tenure with Atlanta. Both teams confirmed the transaction amid ongoing trade discussions.
The trade was finalized on Friday, January 9, 2026, as reported by NBA.com and team announcements. Trae Young, the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, heads to Washington after leading the Hawks in assists and three-pointers during his career. He leaves as Atlanta's all-time leader in assists, surpassing Doc Rivers, and in three-pointers, passing Mookie Blaylock. Young is also fourth in free throws made and sixth in total points for the franchise.
In a post on social media, Young bid farewell to Atlanta: “I’m walking into this next chapter with my head high and my eyes forward. It’s time to see what’s possible when the support is real and the vision is clear. We move.” The Wizards welcomed him with a shoutout, noting his arrival in D.C.
The Hawks, in turn, acquire veteran guard CJ McCollum, who averaged 18.8 points in 35 games this season with Washington and 19.6 points career-wide, and forward Corey Kispert, a five-year veteran averaging 10.9 points with 38% three-point shooting. This marks McCollum's fourth team after stints with Portland and New Orleans.
The deal occurred during a Hawks home game against the Philadelphia 76ers, where Young sat in street clothes on the bench before exiting in the fourth quarter, slapping hands with fans. Teammate Mouhamed Gueye praised Young post-game: “That’s T.Y. That’s Trae Young... An Atlanta legend.”
Young, a four-time All-Star, has been sidelined recently by a right quad contusion and right knee MCL sprain, missing the Wizards' game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Atlanta's record this season stands at 2-8 with Young and 16-13 without him, prompting the shift to build around players like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. Young holds a $49 million player option for next season and is eligible for an extension with Washington.
The Wizards, at 10-26, gain a top playmaker to pair with their young talent and cap space, ending a drought without an All-Star since Bradley Beal in 2021.
