Trae Young was traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards while Atlanta was hosting the New Orleans Pelicans at State Farm Arena, turning an ordinary regular-season night into one of the most surreal moments of the NBA season.
Young was not in uniform, having missed his sixth straight game due to a lingering quad injury, but he was present on the Hawks’ bench in street clothes. Midway through the game, news broke that the deal was complete, and moments later, Young quietly stood up and walked toward the locker room, effectively closing the book on eight seasons with the franchise.
Steph Curry needed help untangling himself while Gary Payton II admired his flexibility
A trade confirmed in real time for Young
According to Shams Charania, Atlanta agreed to send Young to Washington in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The move had been gaining momentum throughout the evening, with reports indicating that Young had identified the Wizards as his preferred destination if a trade were to happen.
There was no formal announcement inside the arena and no dramatic farewell. Young simply rose from his seat, exchanged a few brief words, and exited the bench area as cameras caught the moment. The image quickly spread across social media, symbolizing the abrupt nature of modern NBA business.
Young will head to Washington once the trade is fully processed. Because he is still recovering from injury, his Wizards debut timeline remains uncertain. However, his return to Atlanta could come sooner than expected, as the Hawks and Wizards are scheduled to meet twice in late February – back-to-back games on Feb. 24 and 26.
The end of an era in Atlanta
Drafted in 2018, Young became the face of the Hawks almost immediately. Over 493 games with Atlanta, he averaged 25.2 points, 9.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.2% from the field and knocking down 2.6 three-pointers per contest. A four-time All-Star, Young helped lead the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, cementing his place in franchise history.
Despite his individual success, Atlanta struggled to build sustained postseason momentum around him, and trade rumors had followed Young for multiple seasons. Wednesday night confirmed what many around the league had long suspected, a reset was inevitable.
For Washington, the move signals a bold shift toward acquiring star power and playmaking. Pairing Young’s offensive creativity with a rebuilding roster gives the Wizards a new centerpiece to build around.
For Atlanta, the trade marks a definitive turning point. Watching their franchise player walk off the bench mid-game was a visual reminder that change has officially arrived, suddenly, quietly, and without ceremony.
