NBA Trade Rumor: Shocking New Frontrunner Emerges in Trae Young Trade Talk

While many around the NBA were starting to wonder if there was a viable trade market for Trae Young, the latest report, from insider Marc Stein, is that the Atlanta Hawks may have found a serious suitor in the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards have emerged as a legitimate potential trade destination for Atlanta's Trae Young, @TheSteinLine has learned, in a deal construction centered around CJ McCollum's expiring contract.

More to come here: https://t.co/i9CobUR55T pic.twitter.com/k9xOa2DZas
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 5, 2026

Stein reports that Washington has emerged as a "legitimate" trade destination, and that the Wiz would center a trade around the expiring $30.6 million contract of CJ McCollum.

To top that off, we're getting word from Shams Charania that Young's agents and the Hawks are officially working together to get a trade done to ship him out of Atlanta.

Just in: Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young and his agents, Aaron Mintz, Drew Morrison and Austin Brown, are working with the franchise on a trade, sources tell ESPN. Young's reps and the Hawks have started collaborative talks over the last week on finding a resolution. pic.twitter.com/dUCNnDKqTt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 5, 2026

Young has fallen out of favor with the Hawks, as his lack of contributions on the defensive end of the floor have held the team back. Atlanta went on a nice 13-9 run while he was out for several weeks earlier in the season, playing mostly strong defense. That's fallen apart, and they have lost all five games that he's been back in the lineup (though he has been out again for the last four games, in which they've gone 2-2).

Another report on Monday has Young himself admitting that he wouldn't be opposed to a trade out of the ATL.

ESPN's Marc Spears says Trae Young would be open to being traded from the Hawks 😳

"I don't think he's telling them not to trade him, I'm hearing he's open-minded to being moved... I do think he'd certainly be open-minded to a new uniform."

pic.twitter.com/Q0nIbpMnon
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2026

"I don't think he's telling them not to trade him, I'm hearing he's open-minded to being moved," said insider Marc Spears. "I do think he'd certainly be open-minded to a new uniform."