Trae Young, after his first days with the Wizards: "I need this city"

The moment was silent, intimate, and devastating. Trae Young was driving towards State Farm Arena on Wednesday night when he realized the inevitable: it would probably be the last time. Emotions hit him before reaching the Atlanta Hawks stadium, and tears began to fall. The end of an era was minutes away from becoming official.

Hours later, what he already felt during the journey was confirmed. Young, a four-time NBA All-Star and the face of the franchise for nearly a decade, was traded to the Washington Wizards. This change marks the definitive closure of his chapter in Atlanta and the beginning of a new phase in a rebuilding organization.

"It hit me while driving to the arena," Young confessed to Andscape from the Capital One Arena on Friday night, before Washington's game against New Orleans. "I knew it could happen that night or at any moment of the day. I had spoken with my agent. I started crying because I understood that it would probably be the last time I made that journey."

Despite being injured, Young decided to show up on the court before the game. He didn't participate in shootaround but took some shots, exchanged words with staff, and soaked in the moment. It was his way of saying goodbye.

"I knew it was the last time I'd be there," he explained. "That's why I went out to shoot. Probably no one expected it. It was my way of saying it was over... and I was okay with it."

While the Hawks defeated the Pelicans that night, news of the trade spread in real time. Young left the arena for the last time as an Atlanta player, leaving behind a historic period.

Selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Young played 493 regular-season games with the Hawks, averaging 25.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.8 assists. He became the franchise leader in threes and assists, with his pinnacle in 2021 when he led Atlanta to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Before his injury this season, Young was averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in 10 games, although he missed six consecutive games due to a right quad contusion and a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

Young is in the fourth year of a five-season maximum $215 million contract, including a player option of $49 million for next season. Atlanta chose not to offer him an extension before the trade, a clear sign that the relationship had reached its competitive limit.

The trade was officially completed on Friday: the Wizards acquired Young in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. For a young, rebuilding franchise with a 10-27 record, the arrival of an established star signifies a clear commitment to leadership, identity, and relevance.

Washington as a Fresh Start

From Young's perspective, the relationship with the Wizards is not one-sided. It's not just about rescuing a needy franchise, but a mutual exchange of energy and purpose.

"That could be another reason why I'm here," he stated. "We can revitalize each other. The city can revitalize me as much as I can revitalize it."

Washington hasn't seen the postseason since 2021 and is undergoing a youth-focused development process. To Young, this context represents an opportunity, not a limitation.

"I want to be an influential person and player wherever I go," he explained. "If I'm going to revitalize this city, I need the city and this team to give us as much as we're going to give to them."

The departure from Atlanta was emotional but not bitter. Young understands the business, accepts the change, and looks forward with determination. Now, in a new city, with a new jersey and a new challenge, he seeks more than just statistics or contracts.

He seeks relevance, purpose, and renewal.

And in Washington, Trae Young believes he has found the perfect place to start anew.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Trae Young, tras sus primeros días en los Wizards: "Necesito a esta ciudad"