All-Star guard Trae Young addressed his departure from the Hawks on social media Friday, lamenting never getting to “see our full potential” in Atlanta and adding that he is “ecstatic” for the next chapter.
Young spent seven-plus seasons with the Hawks but pushed for a trade to the Washington Wizards through talks between his agents and Atlanta general manager Onsi Saleh. The deal announced Friday sends Young to the Wizards, with the Hawks acquiring CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
“The last few years weren’t how I wanted them to be,” Young wrote. “Expectations that we created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before.
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“Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal. However, between the injuries, the setbacks, and situations that didn’t make sense, we never truly got to see our full potential.”
Young, who dealt with a right MCL sprain early in the season and has managed residual pain from the injury, has been sidelined recently because of a right quad contusion. He remains out for the Wizards’ game Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans, though he is expected to speak with reporters prior to the contest.
McCollum and Kispert were also ruled out for the Hawks’ game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night as they are not yet with the team.
Young will wear No. 3 for the Wizards, as the No. 11 he wore in Atlanta is retired in Washington for Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes. Young, who has $95 million remaining on his deal, including a player option for 2026-27, wrote in his post that he was ready to take a chance outside Atlanta.
“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,” he wrote.
He leaves Atlanta as the franchise leader in 3-pointers (1,295) and assists (4,837). He led the Hawks to the postseason three times, including a run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021.
“On behalf of the Hawks franchise, I’d like to thank Trae for how he embraced the city of Atlanta and represented the Hawks during his time here, on the court and in the community,” Saleh said in a statement. “Over more than seven seasons, including four All-Star appearances, he cemented himself as a fan favorite and one of the great players in our franchise’s history. We wish Trae and his family all the best.”
The Wizards are not expected to have immediate extension talks with Young, and both sides will evaluate his health once he arrives in Washington, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“I’m walking into this next chapter ecstatic, with my head high and my eyes forward,” Young concluded in his post. “It’s time to see what’s possible when the support is real and vision is clear. We move.”
