The Atlanta Hawks made headlines when they moved on from four-time All-Star Trae Young, sending the veteran point guard to the Washington Wizards. At first glance, the reaction was swift: Atlanta didn’t get enough back. But as more details come into focus-especially out of Washington-it’s time to take a second look at what this deal actually means for both teams, particularly the Hawks.
Let’s start with what Atlanta received: CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. On paper, that return might not scream blockbuster, but context matters. The Hawks are a young squad in need of leadership and spacing-two things McCollum and Kispert bring in spades.
McCollum, though past his prime, brings a veteran presence that this Atlanta locker room has been sorely lacking. He’s been through playoff battles, knows how to run an offense, and can still get buckets when needed. For a team trying to mold its young core under head coach Quin Snyder, having a steady hand like McCollum’s could be the glue that helps everything stick together.
Then there’s Kispert, a sharpshooter with a career three-point percentage north of 38%. He slots in perfectly with a Hawks team that’s quietly become one of the league’s best from deep. Pairing Kispert with Luke Kennard and Vit Krejci-who are shooting a blistering 46% from three this season-gives Atlanta a legitimate perimeter trio that can stretch defenses and open up the floor for their playmakers.
Meanwhile, over in Washington, the situation with Trae Young is murky. Head coach Brian Keefe has made it clear the team is prioritizing Young’s health, with no clear timetable for his debut.
But there’s more at play here than just rehab. The Wizards are currently holding onto a top-8 protected first-round pick, and if that pick slips outside that range, it goes to the Knicks.
So, keeping Young sidelined might not just be about caution-it might be about keeping their draft position intact.
That’s where the trade starts to tilt in Atlanta’s favor-at least for the short term. While Washington is sitting on its new star without a clear plan to play him, the Hawks are already integrating their new pieces into a system that needed exactly what McCollum and Kispert bring.
Atlanta didn’t just make a move-they made the right kind of move. They filled gaps.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Trae Young is a dynamic offensive talent. But his fit in Atlanta had become increasingly strained.
The Hawks needed more balance, more structure, and more two-way play. This trade gives them a chance to reset-not just in terms of personnel, but financially too.
With Young’s contract off the books, Atlanta has opened up valuable cap space that could be a game-changer down the line.
There’s still a long way to go in this season, and it’s far too early to declare a winner in this trade. But in terms of immediate impact, Atlanta’s side of the deal looks a lot more purposeful. They didn’t just trade a star-they traded for fit, for flexibility, and for a clearer path forward.
If the Hawks can continue to develop their young talent, hit on their draft picks, and use their newfound cap space wisely, they’re not just rebuilding-they’re reloading. The Eastern Conference is wide open beyond the top tier, and Atlanta now has the tools to climb the standings.
The question isn’t whether this trade will define the Hawks’ future. The question is how soon that future arrives.