Trae Young publicly addressed his trade from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards on Friday, offering his first comments as the deal moves toward finalization.
Young shared a lengthy Instagram post on January 9, reflecting on his time in Atlanta and outlining his mindset as he prepares for the next chapter of his career.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord — Jeremiah 29:11. “Never thought I’d be typing this. The last few years weren’t how I wanted them to be,” Young wrote at the start of his message.
The 27-year-old guard pointed to the internal expectations that shaped his tenure with the franchise and the pressure that came with elevating the organization to new heights.
“Expectations that we created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before. Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal,” Young wrote.
Young acknowledged that a combination of injuries, setbacks, and circumstances limited the team’s ability to fully capitalize on its competitive window.
“However, between the injuries, the setbacks, and situations that didn’t make sense, we never truly got to see our full potential,” he continued.
Atlanta drafted Young in 2018 and built much of its roster strategy around him, resulting in multiple playoff appearances and an Eastern Conference finals run earlier in his career.
During the 2025–26 season, Young appeared in 10 games for Atlanta, averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in 28.0 minutes per game before trade discussions accelerated.
The agreement reached Thursday sends Young to Washington in a deal centered on CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, with no future draft picks included.
From Atlanta’s perspective, the move creates immediate financial flexibility, as McCollum’s $30.7 million contract expires at the end of the season.
That cap relief positions the Hawks to reshape the roster around a younger core led by Jalen Johnson, who is averaging 23.5 points and 10.3 rebounds, along with Onyeka Okongwu’s interior production.
Young’s $49 million player option for the 2026–27 season also factored into the timing, increasing urgency for both sides to reach a resolution.
For Washington, the move signals a commitment to offensive creation, adding a proven playmaker to a developing roster without sacrificing draft assets.
Young closed his message by emphasizing growth and acceptance rather than disappointment.
“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,” Young wrote. “I’m walking into this next chapter ecstatic, with my head high and my eyes forward.”
