Gandalf, Harry Potter, past-his-prime Michael Jordan–and now Trae Young.

The four-time NBA All-Star now joins the ranks of the world’s most famous wizards after the Atlanta Hawks traded him to the Washington Wizards. The Wizards currently employ Travis Schlenk in their front office who was Atlanta’s general manager when they first acquired Young via a draft-night deal involving Luka Doncic back in 2018.

Young wound up spending the first seven and a half seasons of his career with Atlanta and the team was moderately successful during his time with them. They made three postseason appearances, highlighted by a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.

However, the Hawks have been quite mediocre since which ultimately paved the way for this trade. Statistically, Young has been one of the best players in recent seasons, but his glaring limitations on defense and poor off-ball abilities on offense have held Atlanta back from achieving any consistent success.

This season has been no different, with the Hawks currently ninth in the East with an 18-21 record. They were notably better while Young was sidelined with knee issues, going 16–13 in games without their star point guard. This, coupled with the emergence of forward Jalen Johnson, made it a no-brainer to trade him away once a viable deal was within reach.

Atlanta sent Young to the Wizards for veteran guard CJ McCollum and sharpshooter Corey Kispert, both of whom should be able to contribute right away for the Hawks. Meanwhile, Young is set to become the leader of a promising Washington group that has begun to carve out an identity for itself this season. Schlenk clearly believes in Young, yet it remains to be seen how he fits in with this young Washington core.

The 27-year-old guard should pair nicely with last year’s second overall pick, center Alex Sarr, who has significantly improved his play around the rim this season. Young thrives in pick-and-roll situations and Sarr profiles as an ideal partner for the player who led the league in assists last year.

Trae Young Put On A Show This Season!

Swingmen Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly as well as shoot-first rookie Tre Johnson will also benefit from playing alongside Young whose gravity on offense will free them up on the perimeter.

One player who is likely to see a decreased role is sophomore point guard Bub Carrington. The 20-year-old guard is likely to serve as Young’s full-time back-up, though his decent size (6’4) might make it possible for both of them to share the floor.

While the potential is there, Young has his work cut out for him with these Wizards. They have only made one postseason appearance since 2019 and have not made it past the second round since 1979. If Young can somehow spin this team into shape, he will become a beloved icon for a Washington fanbase that has not had much to cheer about since the team’s last pair of All-Stars, John Wall and Bradley Beal, guided this team in its last relevant era. 

For a Wizards franchise that is still searching for direction, this trade is less about certainty and immediate results—and more about building something that could be special in the long term.