Before the trade deadline, the Atlanta Hawks decided to move on by trading former face of the franchise Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Young was often injured this season and was not very productive when healthy, but the Hawks decided they would rather get some value for him rather than give him a big contract moving forward.
It also allows the Hawks to transition to a defense-first identity, with the team handing the keys to the franchise to rising star Jalen Johnson. But Young's departure was so sudden that everyone didn't get a chance to say goodbye.
Tuesday night, Hawks visit Young with Wizards finally got it His well-deserved public farewell. The Hawks released a tribute video to Young, to which the multiple-time All-Star reacted emotionally.
Via ClutchPoints beat reporter Malik Brown and Hawks.com reporter Kevin Chouinard:
Trae Young Tribute Video + Trae's Reaction pic.twitter.com/ZHXl8v715a
- Malik Brown (@_MalikATL) 25 February 2026
Trae Young reacts to his tribute video pic.twitter.com/mJ2xF5H6eT
- Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) 25 February 2026
Young played some of his best basketball for the Hawks, and the city of Atlanta adopted him as one of their own. It may not have worked out for Young in the end in Atlanta, but that doesn't take away from anything he's done for the team in his seven and a half seasons with the team.
Trae Young, Hawks make fresh start
The Hawks got a fresh start, but so did Young. Young has long been scapegoated for his defensive shortcomings, but in the nation's capital, he'll get more help than ever, especially once Anthony Davis gets healthy.
It wasn't an easy decision for the Hawks to lose Young, but Johnson's emergence as a point forward and the team's improved depth could bode well for their future – especially when they have a potential top-five pick in this year's draft.
