Trae Young wants to join the Washington Wizards. The Atlanta Hawks are actively exploring trade scenarios for their star guard.
The Atlanta Hawks appear to be moving closer to a franchise-altering decision, with Trae Young signaling a preferred destination as trade talks around the All-Star guard intensify.
According to ESPN, Young has identified the Washington Wizards as his desired landing spot while he and the Hawks work toward a potential trade resolution. League sources indicated that discussions between Atlanta and multiple teams are active as the organization weighs its next steps.
Young’s representation remains engaged in ongoing conversations with the Hawks as both sides explore pathways toward a deal. Those talks come at a pivotal moment for Atlanta, which faces a complex set of financial and competitive considerations tied to Young’s contract and the team’s evolving roster.
Young holds a $49 million player option for next season, a decision that looms large over the Hawks’ strategy. Exercising that option would make him an expiring contract, while opting out could allow him to test free agency and potentially leave Atlanta with nearly $40 million in cap space. Either scenario significantly impacts the leverage and urgency surrounding any trade discussions.
The potential split would mark the end of an era in Atlanta. Selected in the 2018 NBA Draft, Young has been the defining figure of the Hawks’ rebuild and resurgence over the past eight seasons. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in 3-pointers and assists and helped guide Atlanta to three postseason appearances, highlighted by a surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021.
That legacy, however, now coincides with a shifting organizational timeline. Atlanta appears increasingly prepared to pivot toward a younger core, headlined by the emergence of Jalen Johnson, who has taken on a starring role this season. Johnson is averaging 23.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.4 assists across 34 games, positioning himself as a foundational piece for the franchise moving forward.
The Hawks have also received a significant boost from free-agent addition Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is posting a career-high 20.5 points per game in 36 appearances. His breakout season has added to the sense that Atlanta is entering a new phase, one less dependent on Young’s ball-dominant style.
Health has also played a central role in the unfolding situation. Young has been limited to just 10 games this season due to a series of leg-related injuries. He suffered a right MCL sprain early in the year and has dealt with lingering discomfort, and he is currently sidelined with a right quad contusion that has forced him to miss the past five games.
Despite the injuries, Young’s résumé remains among the league’s most productive for a lead guard. He was an All-NBA selection in the 2021–22 season and owns career averages of 25.2 points and 9.8 assists. Just last season, he led the NBA in assists at 11.6 per game, reaffirming his status as one of the league’s premier playmakers.
For Washington, the possibility of acquiring Young would represent a major shift in direction as the Wizards continue to evaluate their long-term rebuild. For Atlanta, a trade would signal a clear commitment to reshaping the roster around its emerging talent while gaining flexibility for the future.
As talks continue across the league, the Hawks now face a defining choice: maximize value in a trade, manage the risk tied to Young’s contract decision, and formally turn the page on a player who helped define the franchise for nearly a decade.