The Washington Wizards have surfaced as a potential trade destination for Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein. The deal would reportedly be centered around guard C.J. McCollum’s expiring contract.
The Wizards have emerged as a legitimate potential trade destination for Atlanta’s Trae Young, @TheSteinLine has learned, in a deal construction centered around CJ McCollum’s expiring contract.
More to come here: https://t.co/i9CobUR55Tpic.twitter.com/k9xOa2DZas
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 5, 2026
Atlanta began collaborative talks with Young’s agents, Drew Morrison, Aaron Mintz and Austin Brown of CAA, last week, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The two sides have appeared headed for a split since the Hawks declined to offer Young a max extension this past offseason.
Young has a $49 million player option for next season, and there’s reportedly some belief that the Hawks might have to offer draft compensation to entice a team to absorb his contract.
It has been a difficult start to the 2025-26 season for Young, who has played in only 10 games due to a knee injury. He hasn’t played since a Dec. 27 loss to the New York Knicks in which he totaled 9 points, 10 assists and 6 turnovers. He missed the entire month of November, and the Hawks went 10-5 without their four-time All-Star.
The past couple of years have been tough for Young and the Hawks, as they’ve missed out on the playoffs the past two seasons. Atlanta qualified for the play-in tournament each of those years but failed to advance. There has been plenty of speculation about the Hawks and Young splitting, and with the Feb. 5 trade deadline quickly approaching, a deal could be imminent.
What’s more, many of Young’s offensive stats are down significantly in the 10 games he has played this season. Last season, Young averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists (NBA leader) and shot 34% from 3-point range in 76 games. This year, he’s down to 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game and is shooting 30.5% from beyond the arc. Whether it’s his health, the team or the desire to play elsewhere, something likely needs to change soon.
Since entering the NBA in 2018, Young has been one of the more prolific point guards in terms of scoring and passing. In each of the past three seasons, he has averaged a double-double in points and assists. The biggest criticisms of Young are his smaller stature and limited defensive ability.
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