"NBA trade season tipped off Wednesday night with a former franchise player finding a fresh start. Trae Young, the face of the Atlanta Hawks for most of the past decade and arguably the franchise's most consequential player since Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, was sent to the Washington Wizards for guards CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Why did Atlanta and Washington do this deal now? What's next in the evolution of both franchises?"
"The Hawks, who did sign guards Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to four-year contracts worth $162 million, had made it clear that the future of the franchise didn't necessarily include the 27-year-old Young. That's when Young and his agents began looking for an off ramp -- and a team that would pay him through his prime years. Young did have some leverage; he could have declined his player option for 2026-27 and walked via unrestricted free agency this July."
Trae Young was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards for guards CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Atlanta declined to extend Young last offseason and signed Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to four-year, $162 million contracts, signaling that the franchise's future might not include Young. Young and his agents sought an off-ramp to secure a contract through his prime while retaining leverage via a 2026-27 player option and potential unrestricted free agency. Atlanta chose not to wait to resolve Young's situation, prompting the trade and expected ripple effects across the NBA.
Read at ESPN.com
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