The Washington Wizards made headlines with their bold move to acquire Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that sent shockwaves through the league. On the surface, it’s the kind of deal that raises eyebrows - not just because of who was involved, but because of the timing and what (or rather, what wasn’t) included in the return.
Let’s start with the basics: Trae Young is a four-time All-Star, still just 27, and one of the league’s premier offensive engines. When a player of that caliber becomes available, you expect a bidding war.
You expect draft picks. You expect leverage.
But instead, Atlanta moved quickly - almost too quickly - after Young reportedly listed Washington as his preferred destination. The Hawks didn’t wait for the market to heat up.
They didn’t hold out for a treasure chest of draft capital. They made the deal.
And that’s where the questions started flying.
Why would the Wizards - currently near the bottom of the standings and in the thick of the race for a top-8 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft - push their chips in for a win-now player like Young? And on the flip side, why would the Hawks, who’ve spent years building around their dynamic point guard, part ways without securing any future draft assets in return?
Initially, it looked like Atlanta had sold low. But a few games into the post-Trae era, the picture is starting to come into focus - and it’s not as bleak as it first appeared.
CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert are already making their presence felt in Atlanta.
Let’s start with McCollum. The veteran guard might not be the long-term answer, but he brings something valuable to the table in the short term: versatility, leadership, and a contract that could be a key trade chip.
His deal is expiring, which makes him attractive to teams looking to clear cap space or retool on the fly. If the Hawks are serious about pursuing another star - and reports have linked them to big names like Anthony Davis - McCollum’s contract could be a central piece in making that happen.
But he’s not just a salary filler. McCollum is still producing.
He dropped 25 points in his last outing, showing he’s more than capable of carrying the scoring load when needed. That kind of production, especially from a player who knows how to operate in big moments, brings immediate value to a Hawks team that’s trying to stay competitive while reshaping its core.
Then there’s Corey Kispert, the kind of under-the-radar pickup that could quietly pay big dividends. The former Gonzaga standout fits the mold of a modern NBA wing - a true 3-and-D threat who can stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and slide seamlessly into a sixth-man role or spot start when needed. He’s not flashy, but he’s efficient, and for a team looking to build around rising star Jalen Johnson, that kind of complementary piece is exactly what you want.
It’s clear now that Atlanta’s front office wasn’t just looking to hit the reset button. They weren’t chasing draft picks and a long rebuild. They were looking for players who fit the new vision - a roster built around Johnson’s emergence, with flexibility to make another big move if the right opportunity presents itself.
So while the initial reaction to the Trae Young trade was confusion - and maybe even frustration - the early returns suggest something more strategic. The Hawks didn’t panic. They pivoted.
And if McCollum keeps producing, Kispert continues to thrive in his role, and Atlanta finds a way to flip that cap space into another star? This deal might end up looking a lot smarter than it did on day one.