A “legitimate” landing spot has reportedly emerged for an NBA superstar in a massive trade development that could shake up the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Washington Wizards are the shock leading suitor for All-Star Atlanta guard Trae Young, according to NBA insider Marc Spears, and the framework for a trade is already becoming clear.
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And crucially, it’s been said Young — who’s missed 27 games this season with leg injuries — is “open-minded” to the prospect of a Hawks exit after eight seasons and three playoff campaigns.
On Tuesday morning Australian eastern time, Stein wrote on social media platform X: “The Wizards have emerged as a legitimate potential trade destination for Atlanta’s Trae Young, The Stein Line has learned, in a deal construction centered around CJ McCollum’s expiring contract.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania soon after reported Young’s agents were “working with the franchise on a trade”.
“Young’s reps and the Hawks have started collaborative talks over the last week on finding a resolution,” Charania also tweeted.
The Wizards are currently 14th in the East at 9-25, while the Hawks are in the play-in picture — 10th with a record of 17-20.
This is 34-year-old McCollum’s first season in the nation’s capital after four seasons in New Orleans and nine in Portland.
The knockdown shooter, who is set to earn over $30 million (AU$44,676,090) this year, is on an expiring contract — having been traded to Washington from the Pelicans in the off-season.
Young, meanwhile, is in the fourth year of a five-year deal — with a player option this off-season — is earning a touch under $46 million (AU$68,495,702), and it set to earn almost $49 million (AU$72,962,813) in his final year.
Earlier on ESPN, Spears indicated that Young had been more open to being moved.
“I hear that he is trying to be really careful about this,” Spears began, before explaining the dynamic of the delicate situation.
“This is a guy that saw Kevin Durant leave Oklahoma City as a kid and saw how that was, and he wants to continue to have a connection with Atlanta, so I don’t think that he is asking for a trade, but I don’t think that he is telling them not to trade him.
“I think he is open-minded to being moved. He and (Kristaps) Porzingis have not really played together, so we don’t really know what that looks like.
“But without an extension and with Trae seemingly being blamed for a lot of things — fair or unfair — I think he would be open minded to a new uniform.”
Further to this Porzingis point, Young has irrefutably become more expendable from an Atlanta perspective amidst the stunning emergence of forward Jalen Johnson.
Johnson, who just turned 24, is averaging 24.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists in an All-Star-calibre ascent. He averaged just 13.0 points last season.
A Young move would also see increased offensive responsibility for Australian guard Dyson Daniels, who’s stepped up his facilitative play in the four-time All-Star’s absence.
The NBA trade deadline is on February 6.