Trae Young might be rocking a Wizards jersey right now, but he’s already dropping hints about a potential Hawks reunion down the line. The star guard, who just started a new chapter in Washington, popped up on The Baller Alert Show and when asked if he’d ever consider playing for Atlanta again, his reply was short and pointed: “you never know.” He even doubled down, saying, “Man, you never know.”
Why Young’s Atlanta Exit Still Looms Large
Young spent his first eight seasons absolutely cooking in Atlanta. We’re talking four All-Star nods and leading that squad to three straight playoff appearances from 2021 to ’23, even making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. So yeah, he was kind of a big deal there. The split happened after the Hawks didn’t ink him to a contract extension last offseason, which was the first real sign a breakup was coming. The two sides eventually worked out a trade that sent Young to Washington on January 9th, in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Young made sure to leave on the right terms, telling the world on social media that there was no bad blood, explaining that sometimes “breakups are meant to happen, but just how they go down is what’s most important.”
Washington’s Big Bet and What It Means Now
Despite being limited to just 15 games last season due to injuries, including only five after the Wizards trade, Washington went all in, handing Young a fat four-year, $212 million contract in free agency. That’s a huge bet on a guy who was just talking about potentially going back to his old team, even if it’s “down the line.” The Wizards have a really interesting crew heading into this season with Young, Anthony Davis, AJ Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, and Bub Carrington. They’re banking hard on Dybantsa’s development, but if they want to escape their three consecutive seasons with fewer than 20 wins and actually be a playoff team in the East, keeping Young and Davis healthy is everything. Young says his “10 toes are here in DC,” but when a player that popular and important for a franchise like Atlanta says “you never know” about a return, it just adds a whole new layer of pressure on Washington to get the absolute best version of him, right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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