The Washington Wizards are major winners for acquiring a four time All Star for essentially no draft assets. Trae Young provides the elite offensive engine that Washington’s young core has been missing to tie their talented pieces together. Rookie sensation Alex Sarr and guard Tre Johnson are expected to thrive immediately as Young’s pick and roll partners and floor spacers. Additionally, Young brings a level of star power that will significantly boost ticket sales and fan engagement in D.C.

Loser: Washington Wizards Defense

While the offense gets a massive upgrade, the Wizards defense is the clear loser in this transaction. Washington already entered January 2026 with the 29th ranked defense in the NBA, and adding Young a known defensive liability will not help that ranking. The team will likely be involved in high scoring shootouts, but they will struggle to stop any elite Eastern Conference opponents. Opposing guards will likely target Young in the halfcourt, putting even more pressure on Alex Sarr to protect the rim.

Winner: Atlanta Hawks and Jalen Johnson

The Atlanta Hawks are winners because they successfully pivoted away from an era that had reached its ceiling. By acquiring CJ McCollum’s expiring $30.7 million contract, Atlanta has cleared massive cap space to potentially pursue a trade for Dallas star Anthony Davis. The trade also officially hands the keys of the franchise to Jalen Johnson, who is having an All Star caliber season. Moving Young allows the Hawks to build a more versatile, long, and defensive minded roster around their emerging young core.

Loser: The New York Knicks Pick Protection

The New York Knicks are potential losers due to the protections on the 2026 first round pick that Washington owes them. That pick is top eight protected, and before the trade, the 10-26 Wizards were almost guaranteed to keep it. However, if an energized Trae Young leads Washington on a late season winning streak or a play in push, the pick could fall into the 9-12 range and convey to New York. Knicks fans are now in the awkward position of hoping Young does not play too well for his new team.