This past Wednesday, January 7, 2026, marked Trae Young’s final game with the Atlanta Hawks, but he had to experience it from the sidelines. From the bench, he watched as his chapter at State Farm Arena quietly slipped away.
The team ruled him out with a troublesome right quad contusion, preventing the farewell performance the 27-year-old guard would have loved to deliver for his now former team. His departure now sends him to the Washington Wizards.
The guard now parts ways with Atlanta after enduring tense situations that strained the relationship and ultimately pushed him toward a new city, where he will have the chance to continue proving his talent and quality on the court.
With his new team, he will find greater opportunities, opportunities that had narrowed with the Hawks in recent weeks, while also continuing his development and building the strong bond he forged with Atlanta’s fans.
Trae Young dedicates an emotional farewell to Atlanta fans
Farewells are never easy. They are filled with conflicting, painful, and deeply emotional feelings. This is especially true for players who create a special bond with a city’s fan base.
That is exactly what Trae Young is experiencing now, having never imagined leaving Atlanta, much less under these circumstances. With his heart in his hand, he wrote a farewell message on Instagram, saying goodbye to the people who supported him relentlessly.
The last few years weren’t how I wanted them to be.”…”Expectations that we created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before. Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal…”… “…I’m walking into the next chapter ecstatic, with my head high and my eyes forward. It’s time to see what’s possible when the support is real and the vision is clear. We move.
Young spent seven years with the Atlanta franchise, arriving in 2018 after being selected in the draft that sent Luka Doni to Dallas. The twists of fate first brought the future Los Angeles star to Atlanta, before his path eventually crossed with the Mavericks.
The trade between Atlanta and Washington for Trae Young
The Wizards sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to create $46 million in salary-cap flexibility and acquire Young, believing he can become the young franchise cornerstone the team needs.
For Washington, the move is also about the future, committing to building around the guard. He will also reunite with Travis Schlenk, the executive who drafted him in 2018 for Atlanta.
Young left strong numbers with the Hawks, averaging 25.18 points, 3.45 rebounds, and 9.81 assists per game. The trade was completed on Wednesday, January 7, and both player and franchise hope it becomes a spectacular change, even as traces of sadness remain. The farewell closes a chapter marked by gratitude, tension, growth, memories, expectations, resilience, change, reflection, and acceptance.
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