The Washington Wizards have emerged as a legitimate trade destination for Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, according to TheSteinLine.
Young, 27, is a four-time All-Star and All-NBA third team point guard who has spent his entire career with the Hawks, leading them to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
The trade would be centered around CJ McCollum’s expiring contract, according to TheSteinLine. McCollum is due $30.6 million this season and is set to enter unrestricted free agency this summer.
Young has two years remaining on his five-year, supermax contract. He is owed $45 million this season and has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign. The Wizards could absorb Young’s salary, as they are projected to have the league’s most cap space next season.
Injuries have limited the shifty PG to just 10 games this season, with averages of 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game. The Hawks have been much better with Young off the floor. They are 2-8 with Young in the lineup and 15-12 without him.
The Wizards have a glaring hole at PG, one that Young would immediately fill alongside their young core of Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and others.
McCollum’s salary alone isn’t enough to get a deal done. Considering the Wizards likely won’t attach any of its former first-round draft picks in this deal, they will likely have to attach Corey Kispert, or both Malaki Branham and AJ Johnson, to make the salaries match.
