Why a Trae Young trade is inevitable — And where fantasy basketball managers should hope he lands

As the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline nears, the buzz around Trae Young’s potential departure from Atlanta continues to heat up. But this isn’t your typical superstar-on-the-move story driven by contract disputes or locker room unrest. This time, the Hawks have a legitimate basketball reason to consider moving their franchise cornerstone: they’ve been better without him.

Jalen Johnson’s leap as a primary playmaker and the rise of Nickeil Alexander-Walker as one of the offseason’s best acquisitions have given Atlanta something it lacked: a blueprint for the future that doesn’t require Trae. And with Young’s massive salary, defensive flaws and looming cap implications (Hawks are at the first apron), Atlanta has all the ammo they need to explore the trade market. A trade was the inevitable outcome once the Hawks decided not to give Young a contract extension this season.

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So, where could he land — and more importantly, what does it mean for fantasy basketball?

Washington Wizards

A Trae-to-D.C. scenario likely involves veterans and picks, but the takeaway is simple: Young would walk into a situation with zero friction as the primary engine of their offense. Washington is a team starved for creation and shot-making, and inserting Young into the mix would help a young roster get a table-setter to create better offensive looks.

With a fun crop of developing talents like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly, they can cover Trae’s defensive shortcomings while benefiting from his facilitation. Trae landing here would also likely stifle a bit of George’s ball-handling and usage, but like Cooper Flagg, it still looks like that will be a long-term focus area for the Wizards.

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Fantasy outlook: Expect elite usage, top-tier assist numbers and the greenest of lights like Jordan Poole last year. Joining a rebuilding franchise wouldn’t hamper Young’s volume or opportunities in both points and category leagues.

Milwaukee Bucks

In Milwaukee, the calculus changes. The Bucks are desperate to maximize Giannis Antetokounmpo’s prime and keep him in Cream City for the long haul. The Damian Lillard experiment…

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Author : Dan Titus

Publish date : 2026-01-07 15:20:00

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