On Jan. 7, 2026, Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young stepped onto the court as a member of the Atlanta Hawks for the final time. That same day, the organization finalized and announced a franchise changing trade, sending Young to the Washington Wizards, closing an eight-year chapter that helped define what the Hawks are today.

Young began his NBA career when he was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2018 and was traded to the Hawks almost immediately. After officially signing on July 1, 2018, he spent his entire career with the Hawks until the Jan. 7 trade to Washington.

During his time in Atlanta, Young made a significant impact, He led the Hawks to the 2021 NBA Eastern Conference Finals and collected numerous accolades, including All-NBA honors, All-Rookie Team recognition, four NBA All-Star selections, an NBA Cup All-Tournament Team nod, nine NBA player of the week awards and four NBA Rookie of the Month honors.

Known for his elite scoring and passing, Young joined rare company with career averages of 25+ points per game and 9+ assists per game–placing him alongside elite players such as Oscar Robertson. He quickly became one of the best passers and most prolific top scorers in franchise history, breaking multiple Hawks records.

Young soon became the face of the Hawks, with his jersey becoming one of the best selling merchandise purchased. He became one of 2024’s highest paid athletes, and had numerous brand deals, including his signature brand deal with Adidas. Still, some fans viewed Young as overrated, especially as the Hawks appeared to thrive during his absence following an injury in October 2025. The Hawks performed significantly better in the 2025-26 season with Young off the court, posting a 14-11 record compared to a 2-8 record with him on the court.

Despite these numbers, the idea that the Hawks perform better without Young overlooks the context behind those games. Many of the 14 wins came from -0.500 teams, such as the Chicago Bulls, and the offense often kicked in late in those games without Young’s help. Even during the 14-11 stretch, the Hawks had struggles creating a structured half-court offense strategy, proving that Young will remain one of the few reliable engines the Hawks had. 

Several factors contributed to the decision to trade Young: poor team performance-specifically on defense- his massive upcoming contract and a mutual desire between the Hawks and Young for a fresh start. 

Without Young, the Hawks can now focus on developing younger players such as Jalen Johnson while gaining significant financial flexibility. Removing Young’s $40 million annual salary opens the door for Atlanta to pursue major acquisitions in the coming months and positions them for a much higher first-round pick in June, potentially allowing them to target a high-value prospect.

In return for Young, the Hawks received CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert from the Wizards. McCollum is expected to provide veteran leadership, while Kispert-who has averaged 39.5% of his three-pointers this season- will benefit the Hawks on offense with his shooting skills.

For Atlanta, this trade signals a potential pivot in the team’s organization. Moving forward, the team now has increased financial freedom, additional draft capital and a clearer path to building up younger players on the team. With a more balanced roster, the Hawks can pursue an offense less dependent on a single player and a defense that no longer has to hide a small guard. 

Losing a franchise icon is never easy, but the Hawks appear committed to reshaping their roster to promote long-term sustainability. The coming months will reveal whether this move marks the beginning of a new identity or the start of a lengthy rebuild. 

With Young’s powerful departure, the 2026 trade season is officially heating up. Front offices across the NBA remain active until Feb. 1st, and major moves could unfold at any second as teams scramble to reshape their rosters. Atlanta has only made the first move in what is shaping up to be one of the most eventful trade seasons in recent NBA history.