NBA trades happen behind the scenes, but sometimes, the wheeling-and-dealing occurs in the midst of actual games. That's what occurred on Wednesday night, when Hawks four-time All-Star Trae Young was traded to the Wizards ... while he was sitting on the bench in street clothes.
As the Hawks’ game against the Pelicans headed into the fourth quarter, the news that Young was dealt to the Wizards in exchange for sharpshooter CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert surfaced, prompting several Atlanta players to say their goodbyes to Young on the bench, according to Atlanta sports anchor Miles Garrett.
Mannix: What the Trae Young Trade Says About the Hawks’ Future
Trae Young currently sitting on the Hawks bench.
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) January 8, 2026
Some players have walked up to him shaking hands. https://t.co/IEVRGiMhu9 pic.twitter.com/5aar9dudYj
Young then headed off the floor and towards the tunnel at State Farm Arena.
Trae Young leaving the bench for the final time as a Hawk minutes after his trade to Washington was announced. The end of an era in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/UDI1lR3cqo
— Jacob Kennedy (@jacob_kenn2) January 8, 2026
After returning briefly to the bench, Young headed to the tunnel for good as Hawks fans cheered him.
Trae Yonng walks to the locker room.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 8, 2026
His Atlanta Hawks tenure is over.pic.twitter.com/679LF1N1Gy
Young’s trade to Washington materialized quickly, as it was reported Monday that Young's agents and the Hawks were working together to find a trade for the sharpshooter. It was then reported later that day that the Wizards had emerged as legitimate suitors for Young.
And so here we are, two days later, with Young’s tenure ending as he sat on the bench alongside soon-to-be-ex-teammates in the waning minutes of an Atlanta victory.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Trae Young Trade News Broke While He Was Sitting on the Bench During Hawks Game.
