Trae Young hasn’t suited up yet for the Washington Wizards, and if we’re being honest, there’s a good chance he won’t see much of the floor this season at all. The reason? Draft pick implications loom large, and Washington seems more focused on long-term positioning than short-term production.
The trade that sent Young from Atlanta to D.C. came together quickly but wasn’t entirely out of the blue. The Hawks shipped him to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert - a move that didn’t include any draft capital and looked more like a salary dump than a blockbuster. It was a clean break, with Atlanta offloading Young’s deal for expiring contracts and Washington taking a flier on a former All-Star without committing long-term resources.
So far, the Wizards haven’t rushed to integrate Young into their rotation. And with him sidelined, there’s only so much to evaluate. But ESPN’s Tim Bontemps took a step back to assess the first half of the season, and when it came to the Hawks, he zeroed in on Young’s performance - or lack thereof.
Much of the narrative around Young’s declining value has centered on his defense. At 6'1" and slight of frame, he's long been a target on that end of the floor, and this season was no different. But Bontemps pointed out something more concerning: the offensive numbers weren’t there either.
Despite Young’s reputation as a high-level facilitator, Atlanta’s offense struggled mightily even when he was on the court. He logged just 10 games this season due to a right leg injury, and in those limited minutes, the Hawks’ offense ranked 25th in the league. That’s a jarring stat for a player once seen as a cornerstone of the franchise’s attack.
Young came into the league with deep shooting range and elite passing instincts - the kind of offensive engine you build around. But over time, his scoring efficiency has dipped.
He still sees the floor well and can create for others, but his shot selection and finishing have taken a step back. Without a system tailored specifically to his strengths - heavy pick-and-roll usage, high usage rate, spacing galore - his impact is muted.
Atlanta, meanwhile, didn’t seem interested in building that kind of system anymore. A big reason?
The rise of Jalen Johnson. The young forward has emerged as a versatile two-way piece, giving the Hawks a new direction and making Young more expendable in the process.
As for the Wizards, they now hold a talented but polarizing guard whose future is anything but clear. Whether they eventually decide to unleash Young or keep him on ice in favor of preserving draft position, this trade already feels like a pivot point - not just for Young’s career, but for two franchises trying to redefine themselves.