Trae Young is no longer the villain in Gotham he once was for New York Knicks fans.
The Atlanta Hawks traded the four-time All-Star guard to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday means that the Knicks front office will look to make the most of the Wizards’ move. That’s because the Knicks own the Wizards’ 2026 first-round draft pick with one catch.
Washington has to land at No. 9 or lower for it to convey to the Knicks because the selection is top-eight protected for the Wizards. That said, the Wizards (10-26) already sit at 14th in the Eastern Conference, which means there’s a chance of a run in the play-in tournament instead of a draft lottery spot.
Young could provide enough of a spark for the Wizards to make a run. The Wizards started the season at 1-15 but are now 5-5 in the past 10 games, and Young could help offset the departures of C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert in the trade.
In 10 games this season, Young has averaged 19.3 points per game, but he has been injured a lot, too, with knee and quad problems. McCollum averaged 18.8 points and Kispert 9.2 points for the Wizards before the trade.
Knicks Fans’ Memories of Trae Young Aren’t Fun
GettyTrae Young led the Hawks in an infamous upset of the Knicks in the 2024 NBA Cup.
Young once led the Hawks to a 4-1 series playoff victory over the Knicks in 2021 and then the NBA Cup in 2024, but he could now vicariously be part of what will help the Knicks to keep building a stronger, contending roster. The more immediate good news is that Young likely won’t be facing the Knicks in the playoffs since the Wizards are far from a lock to sneak in, and the Hawks, No. 9 in the East, won’t have Young going forward.
Young once rolled the dice on the Knicks logo at Madison Square Garden after that NBA Cup win, but now, the Knicks fans can hope for things to roll their way if the Wizards improve enough with Young for that draft pick to convey to New York. Depending on the timing, the Knicks could also take a calculated risk on trading the pick if Washington is clear of landing a top-eight pick in the lottery.
Trae Young’s Uncertain Status Also a Benefit to Knicks
The Knicks don’t need Young to lead a big turnaround in Washington to make the most of the pick.
Washington has a young team and needs to build through the draft, so a big climb in the standings is unlikely. The Wizards front office has clear interest in retaining that pick, as Young only adds offense and flair to the team, but he is not a defensive star.
Washington gives up 124.2 points per game, and Young isn’t likely to fix that. In addition, the Wizards could sit Young due to his injuries though the team is not in tanking mode either.
If the Wizards remain poised to have a pick lower than ninth, the Knicks could have leverage with that pick by the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5. The right team for the Knicks could be asking for that pick just in time, depending on how things play out with Young and the Wizards.
Knicks Eager For 1 Big Benefit From Trae Young Trade