By JAMES COHEN, SPORTS REPORTER
Published: 21:35 EST, 7 January 2026 | Updated: 21:41 EST, 7 January 2026
The Atlanta Hawks are trading star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, according to reports.
Young, a four-time NBA All-Star, will head to Washington in exchange for veteran forward Corey Kispert and shooting guard CJ McCollum, according to ESPN.
At the start of the week, it emerged that Young and his team had been pushing for a trade and were working with the Hawks to find a solution for the 27-year-old.
The decision to move on follows a fractured summer where the Hawks front office reportedly elected not to offer Young a contract extension.
Since being drafted by the Hawks back in 2018, Young has been the face of the franchise and has since been named an NBA All-Star on four separate occasions.
Young famously led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, which they lost, but the team has struggled to replicate that postseason success since.
The Atlanta Hawks are trading star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards
This season, Young has struggled with injuries and was recently sidelined with a right quad contusion, having previously had a right MCL sprain.
However, in his absence, the Hawks have actually performed better without him.
Atlanta hold a 15-12 record without their All-Star guard in the team, compared to a dismal 2-8 record when he has been in the lineup this season.
The team's defense has also proved to be more robust without Young, allowing nearly 10 fewer points-per-game in his absence.
Despite the injuries, Young remains one of the league's most prolific playmakers, having led the NBA in assists last season with 11.6 per game.
More to follow...