Last year, there was some buzz about the Utah Jazz's interest in Trae Young. That's gone nowhere, and with Keyonte George's ascension, he's not coming to Utah. However, not only does a Young trade seem inevitable at this point, but one team has emerged as a destination that will surely excite the Jazz: the Washington Wizards.
NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that the Wizards have come up as a destination for Young.
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.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 5, 2026
More to come here: https://t.co/i9CobUR55T pic.twitter.com/k9xOa2DZas
Then, Shams Charania confirmed that Young and the Hawks are working on a potential trade.
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
So, the Trae Young era in Atlanta is ending one way or the other, and the Wizards trying to get involved could actually be beneficial for the Jazz because Young is a star who could make them better. Even though the Wizards are among the NBA's worst teams, they have been playing better lately.
They currently sport the NBA's fourth-worst record, but have gone 6-5 in their last 11 games, signaling some improvement. If they add Young to the mix, that could make them even better, potentially helping Utah's chances in the tanking game, not to mention keeping their pick away from Oklahoma City.
The Jazz are currently No. 7 in the tanking game. The Los Angeles Clippers just surpassed them, and because they're losing their pick no matter what, they'll do everything they can to make sure they never fall behind the Jazz again.
If Washington does the same in a Young trade, that helps Utah's lottery odds become even higher. Getting a higher lottery pick is good, but ensuring they get it is the most important goal. If the Jazz have the No. 6 spot, they all but guarantee the pick stays in their hands. For that reason, every Jazz fan should be rooting for this union to come to fruition.
Don't worry, trading Young doesn't mean the Hawks are tanking
Because of Young's reputation as a star, some may think Atlanta trading him means they are vying for the tank. Well, they are currently 17-20, meaning they have a pretty large mountain to climb if they want to win the lottery. Besides, the quantitative numbers suggest that they are better without Young than with him, which is probably why he's available.
This season, they have been 2-8 with Young on the floor, meaning they are 15-12 when he doesn't play. Adding that they have not seen anything close to the same success they had back in 2021, and it truly calls Young's impact into question.
As odd as it sounds, Atlanta wants to trade Young because they want to get better not worse. If they agree to a trade with the Wizards, it's a win-win. Adding the Jazz's intentions for this season, and it's win-win-win.