Trae Young trade fallout: What it means for the Toronto Raptors

Trae Young is heading to the Washington Wizards for an underwhelming return that is basically a signal of the state of the times.

The deal will have repercussions not only for the Wizards and Atlanta Hawks, of course, but it’s also worth looking into how it impacts the Toronto Raptors.

What’s the deal?

Young, who only turned 27 in September, has some of the most impressive per-game averages in NBA history (25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game in the regular season and 26.4 and 9.0 — fourth-highest all-time — in the playoffs and led the Hawks to a conference final for only the second time since 1970), yet his time in Atlanta had run its course.

But all they could get for him was veteran CJ McCollum and sharp-shooter Corey Kispert, the 15th pick in 2021.

As we said, this is how things work in 2026.

Young’s a four-time all-star and made an All-NBA team — those types used to only be moved for top prospects and/or draft picks, yet Young’s gone for next to nothing.

That’s the way now with the restrictive salary-cap penalties the NBA has put into place for high-spending teams. Plus Young is one of the worst defenders you’ll find, takes a lot of bad shots and turns it over more than nearly anyone.

McCollum’s contract is expiring, while Kispert — who is shooting nearly 40% on three-pointers — is signed long-term for reasonable money, but at-best is a decent backup.

Young could have opted in for next season for big money, but it would have been uncomfortable. The Hawks have gone just 2-8 with him in the lineup and Jalen Johnson clearly has taken over as the driver of the offence there, with Canadian Nickeil Alexander-Walker having a breakout year as the starting point guard.

The Wizards are said to be considering taking a page from the Raptors by mostly resting Young the rest of this season and then hoping he leads them to a resurgence fully healthy in 2026-27. That’s what Toronto did with Brandon Ingram, who didn’t play at all after being acquired from New Orleans last February (Ingram had a far more serious injury than Young currently does though).

Ingram was off to one of the best starts of his 10-year career for the Raptors before getting hurt at Charlotte on Wednesday.

Speaking of the Raptors

The trade might impact the Raptors or it might not.

First, some posited the Raptors as a potential landing spot for Young, though there was never much to that idea. Ironically, news of the deal came only minutes after Immanuel Quickley, who would have been going back in any Young move for Toronto, hit a game-winning three-pointer against Charlotte.

More notably, Atlanta is considered a leading contender for Dallas big man Anthony Davis, with Toronto often mentioned in that circus too.

The Hawks didn’t add much ammo to send to the Mavericks through the Young move. No first-round picks, no good prospects, but McCollum’s expiring contract would be more palatable for the Mavericks compared to Young’s contract, given he could have opted in for another season had he gone to Dallas.

Theoretically, Toronto has more to offer for Davis than Atlanta, should they be so inclined. That might not have been the case had the Hawks acquired something more valuable for Young.

Strange draft class

With Young on the move, of the 2018 NBA draft class, only Jaren Jackson Jr. (fourth overall) and Miles Bridges (12th) have not been traded (not including draft-night deals like the one that sent Bridges to Charlotte and future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Los Angeles Clippers).

Young had been dealt on draft night for Luka Doncic. Top pick Deandre Ayton is on his third team, second pick Marvin Bagley III is on his fourth, sixth pick Mo Bamba just had a quick cup of coffee with Toronto, his sixth squad, and even the best non-lottery player, Jalen Brunson, signed elsewhere as a free agent and has become an iconic New York Knick.

No, that class wasn’t one for stability, though it was one for all-time greats.

@WolstatSun