The Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks completed the first trade of what could soon become one of the most insane trade deadlines the NBA has ever seen. As the 2026 calendar marches toward the February 5 deadline, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale took the time to grade the three trades that have happened so far this season.
Bleacher Report Favors Wizards In Most Recent Blockbuster
The blockbuster: four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young for veteran CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, sent shockwaves around the league, with both sides having something to gain from the deal. However, Favale has given the Wizards an ever-so-slight edge in his trade grade. After grading the Hawks at a C, he had this to say about Washington:
“Washington Wizards: B+
Taking on Young is a calculated gamble. On the one hand, the Wizards are getting a 25-and-10 talent who won’t impact their lottery odds this season, because he’s not playing, while preserving the path to more than $45 million in cap space this summer.
On the other hand, Young has never veered too far from his ball-dominant style. Though his live-dribble playmaking streamlines the job descriptions of those around him, blending his heliocentric leanings with more complementary usage will be critical to optimizing—or at least not infringing upon—the development of the rest of the roster.”
Young’s Impact
If anything, the grade could be higher than a B+, and absolutely no lower. Young has a unique ability that not many players have: he truly makes guys better. Look at a player like Kevin Huerter, who has only seen one season since leaving Atlanta that was better than his time with the Hawks.
Or, most recently, De’Andre Hunter, who was having a career year before being traded to Cleveland last season. Now, Hunter is awaiting his debut for the Kings, just a year after leaving Atlanta and Young.
Young’s scoring ability is too hard to guard. Simply, his offensive gravity cannot be contained by one defender alone. In turn, this makes the guys around him more open, leading to better shots and higher percentages on the floor. When you think of Washington’s current roster, Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson will benefit the most from Young’s offensive impact.
Johnson will be able to work as a true scoring guard, being relieved of his current playmaking role without McCollum. Sarr will be an absolute lethal threat in pick situations. He’s proven he can be a true threat from three, but now possesses the skillset to take it into the paint and finish through lots of contact.
The athletic wing pair of Bilal Coulibaly and Cam Whitmore will excel with Young on the floor. Both players can get to the rack in a hurry, and Whitmore’s verticality will no doubt lead to some big-time lobs once the pair can gain some chemistry.
Players like Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George may experience a slight negative impact on their roles, but both will still be major contributors to the team’s competitiveness. George will return to his secondary distributor role, while Carrington may see fewer minutes and a decline in overall usage.
The Last Word
It’s fair to say that no one can predict how this trade will play out. It’s only been a month, so time will tell. However, the Wizards now have a point guard for the future with some serious potential postseason runs ahead. While Atlanta will have some cap space (barring they re-sign McCollum), there is still a question that remains. Did they make a mistake not getting a better return?
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