Following the Atlanta Hawks' trade of Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert, the deal exemplifies a subdued NBA trade market where star players are available at discounts ahead of the February 5, 2026, deadline.
As detailed in initial coverage of the blockbuster trade, Atlanta's general manager Onsi Saleh sent the four-time All-Star—last season's assist leader and franchise assists record holder—to Washington for 34-year-old McCollum (on a $30.6 million expiring deal) and Kispert (first year of a four-year, $54 million contract). At 27, Young holds a $48 million player option but could seek a longer extension in D.C., positioning him as the Wizards' new point guard at low cost.
This transaction underscores league-wide caution under the new CBA, prioritizing salary matching over premium assets. The Hawks settled for role players to stay Play-In competitive without Young's scoring, while broader rumors highlight stars on the block at steep discounts: Memphis' Ja Morant and New Orleans' Zion Williamson (impacted by off-court issues); Sacramento's Zach LaVine ($49M option) and DeMar DeRozan ($25.7M post-season); Pelicans' Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray ($30M each, underperforming), and Kyle Kuzma (struggling post-2023 $90M deal to Milwaukee).
Giannis Antetokounmpo commands top value, potentially forcing multi-team deals like from the Knicks. New York's Karl-Anthony Towns slumps but holds trade appeal, especially with their Wizards pick protection. Other buzz: Lakers-Cavaliers on De’Andre Hunter for Rui Hachimura/Dalton Knecht; Raptors eyeing Domantas Sabonis amid injuries; 14 teams after Kings' Keon Ellis; OKC considering Isaiah Hartenstein's $28.5M option amid rising costs.
