Washington emerges as a surprising trade partner for Trae Young, offering an unconventional path to spark their franchise with a marquee offensive star.
As trade speculation around Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young continues to accelerate, a new and unexpected team has entered the conversation: the Washington Wizards.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Wizards have legitimate interest in pursuing a trade for Trae Young, a development that adds a surprising dimension to an already fluid situation surrounding the Atlanta Hawks’ franchise guard. Stein reported that Washington has been discussed by league sources as a potential landing spot, with a framework centered around CJ McCollum’s expiring contract.
While the Wizards are not widely viewed as buyers ahead of the February trade deadline, their inclusion in the Young market signals a willingness to explore unconventional paths as they navigate a difficult season. Washington sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and is not positioned to contend, making the idea of taking on a maximum-salary star counterintuitive on the surface. However, league executives increasingly view the move through a broader lens than wins and losses alone.
Young remains one of the league’s most recognizable offensive players, a four-time All-Star capable of driving ticket sales, television interest, and organizational relevance even amid a rebuilding phase. For a Wizards franchise searching for direction and engagement during a lost season, acquiring a marquee name could serve as a short-term jolt while preserving long-term flexibility.
Contract structure is a key factor in that calculus. Young is earning roughly $46 million this season and holds a $49 million player option for the 2026–27 campaign. That option creates uncertainty but also opportunity. If Young were to decline it, Washington would not be locked into a multi-year commitment, allowing the front office to reset its books as early as next offseason while still benefiting from his on-court impact and profile in the interim.
From the Hawks’ perspective, Washington’s emergence as a possible suitor aligns with the broader motivations behind their openness to listening on Young. Atlanta has hovered in the middle tier of the East for multiple seasons, and internal conversations have increasingly focused on flexibility and long-term roster construction. Moving Young for an expiring contract would immediately clear future salary obligations and eliminate the risk of him opting into his player option, which would further constrain cap maneuverability.
McCollum’s expiring deal, while unlikely to factor into Atlanta’s long-term plans, would function primarily as a financial mechanism. It would give the Hawks breathing room heading into future offseasons, when they could pursue roster reshaping without carrying a max contract tied to a potentially uncertain fit.
At this stage, there is no indication that talks between Washington and Atlanta have progressed beyond exploratory discussions. Stein’s reporting emphasizes possibility rather than momentum, and no formal offers have been publicly disclosed. Still, the Wizards’ inclusion in the conversation reflects how expansive the Young market could become as the deadline approaches.
The situation also underscores how teams outside the traditional contender class are reassessing their strategies. Rather than viewing star acquisitions strictly through a championship lens, franchises like Washington are weighing financial timing, market presence, and optionality alongside competitive outcomes.
With weeks remaining before the deadline, Young’s future remains one of the league’s most closely monitored storylines. Whether the Wizards ultimately act on their interest or simply represent another variable in Atlanta’s decision-making, their emergence adds intrigue to a trade market that continues to evolve by the day.