Trae Young has officially said his goodbyes to Atlanta.
While the blockbuster trade that will reportedly send Young from the Hawks to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert is still not official, the 27-year-old all-star took to social media to share some final thoughts on his time in Atlanta.
“The last few years weren’t how I wanted them to be. Expectations that we created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before,” the veteran point guard stated.
“Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal. However, between the injuries, the setbacks, and situations that didn’t make sense, we never truly got to see our full potential.”
Young was drafted by the Mavericks fifth overall in 2018 and immediately traded to Atlanta for Luka Doncic, who the Hawks had selected with the No. 3 pick. The point guard was a three-time all-star over his eight seasons with the Hawks, and he is the team’s all-time leader in assists and three-pointers made.
However, injuries and a fracturing of the relationship between Young and the Hawks limited him to only 10 games this season and ultimately led to the trade to Washington.
In his statement, Young admitted that leaving the city he called home for the last eight years will be difficult, but he said he’s excited about the future.
“The city that raised me and taught me so much will always be a chapter in this story. However, the pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change,” he wrote.
“Change is often met with fear, but I see it as another opportunity.”
The Wizards currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference and have struggled to find any momentum this season, but that won’t stop Young from heading into this next challenge with intent.
“I’m walking into this next chapter ecstatic, with my head high and my eyes forward,” he wrote. “It’s time to see what’s possible when the support is real and the vision is clear.”
“We move.”
