In a well-calculated move, the Atlanta Hawks sent Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. While a few analysts had already predicted Young’s departure from Atlanta, it doesn’t take away from his legacy in the city.
While the team never won a title under Young’s leadership, he did manage to lead them to multiple playoff appearances. And although they will no longer play on the same team, Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh had only nice things to say about his former star.
Hawks GM Onsi Saleh Speaks on Trae Young After Blockbuster Trade to the Washington Wizards
Regardless of how they rebuild, it’s evident that the Hawks’ roster has undergone a complete overhaul following Young’s departure. Of course, Saleh — along with other members of the front office — has to take responsibility for the team’s future.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Saleh discussed the team’s current situation and his feelings about Young, highlighting the immeasurable impact he has had.
“Trae has been so huge in our community. Him and (his wife) Shelby, what they’ve done, we just wish them the best,” Saleh told The Athletic. “They’ve been phenomenal for our organization. (We’re) talking about a guy that’s been the face of our franchise for quite a long time. I really wish him the best, and he’s going to do some cool stuff over there, too. But we like the trade, and what we did was something we really thought would help us now and in the future.”
Irrespective of how Young performs later, even Saleh cannot deny his impact on Atlanta. Not only did he bring some success to the team, but he also brought the community together.
In fact, Saleh also complimented Young’s wife, Shelby, and her contributions.
Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the No. 5 overall pick in 2018, Young has been in Atlanta his entire career.
A four-time NBA All-Star and 2025 league assists leader, Young has been averaging 19.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game while shooting 41.5% from the field.
Saleh Also Shed Light on CJ McCollum’s Future in Atlanta
While the Hawks lost Young, they received CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in the process.
In the same interview, Saleh explained that they remain excited about the trade even though no one knows how their future seasons will pan out.
“We’ll see where that all goes as the season comes along, but CJ’s been awesome,” the GM said. “He’s somebody that I think could fit here long term as well. I’m really, really excited about having him here. But yeah, I can’t really say anything about extension talks and negotiations.” Saleh also added that they “like” the new trade.
The Hawks are currently ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 20-21 win-loss record.