The Atlanta Hawks did just fine when Trae Young was out. They went 15-13 without him, and have gone 2-8 since he returned.
That, plus reports of Hawks players not liking playing with him, have once again propelled trade rumors.
The Washington Wizards emerged as a rumored destination for the Oklahoma product. Now, ESPN insider Shams Charania adds that Young would gladly take his talents to the nation’s capital.
Trae Young wants to play for the Wizards
“Trae Young, the four-time NBA All-Star point guard, has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred trade destination,” Charania said on ESPN. “Sources tell me his agents and the Hawks are working, collaborating on figuring out a trade destination, and in the nation’s capital, Trae Young would give the Wizards a lead guard for the future.”
Charania added that Young’s desire to play in Washington might stem from his relationship with Travis Schlenk. Schlenk was the Hawks’ GM when Young got drafted, and he’s now serving as the Wizards’ senior vice president of player personnel.
Per the report, the Wizards can either trade for him this season or wait to see whether he opts out of the final year of his contract at the end of the campaign.
The Wizards are 5-2 in their last seven games after winning just three of their first 23 games of the season.
They have multiple young players to build around, and adding a proven playmaker and explosive scorer like Young might help speed up their rebuilding process.
They might also be one of the few teams with enough cap space and a willingness to absorb his steep salary.