Trae Young broke his silence after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, reflecting on missed opportunities, playoff frustrations, and the challenges of his time in Atlanta.
Atlanta Hawks officially moved on from Trae Young after trading the All-Star point guard to the Washington Wizards just a few days ago.
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Young was present on the bench when the trade was announced and spoke briefly to the team, but fans have only now heard his full response.
Taking to social media, Young opened up about the move, starting with a line that reflected the weight of the moment: “I never thought I'd be typing this.” Young reflected on his time in Atlanta, highlighting both the highs and the frustrations.
“The last few years weren't how I wanted them to be,” he wrote. “Expectations that were created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before. Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal. However, between the injuries, the setbacks, and situations that didn't make sense, we never truly got to see our full potential.”
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Young reminded fans of the milestone moment from 2021, when he led Atlanta just two games away from the NBA Finals before falling to the eventual champions Milwaukee Bucks. Despite making the playoffs in the two seasons that followed, the Hawks were eliminated in the first round both years.
“There were several different iterations of the team that the front office tried to put together, but they weren't able to get back to the success they found in 2021, which is why Young mentioned that they never got to see their potential.”
Looking ahead, Young is embracing a fresh start in Washington. “However, the pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change. Change is often met with fear, but I see it as another opportunity. I'm walking into this next chapter with my head high and my eyes forward. It's time to see what's possible when the support is real and the vision is clear. We move.”
The Wizards are a young, rebuilding team that hasn’t had a winning record since 2018. With Young, additional cap space, and a potential top pick, Washington could have a real chance to accelerate their growth and become a contender in the coming years.
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