January 7th, 2026 is a day burned into the memory of Wizards fans, one they may never forget.
Aggressive buzzing sounds and shrill chimes set off all across the DMV, all with the same news: the team would be trading for Trae Young, in exchange for C.J McCollum and Corey Kispert.
At the time, the move was applauded by many, as Washington looked to expedite their rebuild.
In recent weeks, however, that optimism has slowly died down, amidst a rough stretch for the Wizards.
Young has played just 5 games for the team, while McCollum's Hawks have risen to 5th in the East, one of the hottest teams in the league at the moment.
As the Hawks continue to reach new heights, and the Wizards continue to flounder, concerns over the trade have grown louder.
Did the Hawks win the deal? Should Washington have kept McCollum? Just months after their huge swing, the Wizards could be looking back with some serious regret.
McCollum has become a different player in Atlanta.
C.J was a member of the Wizards for just 35 games, barely enough to establish himself. However, there were certainly nights when his impact was felt, especially on offense
The guard showed flashes as a scorer, highlighted by, ironically, a 46 point night in a win over the Young-less Hawks in November. His veteran savvy gave the Wizards’ offense a safety net amid the inconsistencies of their young stars.
McCollum's time with the Hawks has largely looked very different. Atlanta has asked significantly less of the star, given their guard depth, allowing him to thrive in a different role.
The veteran has become a largely off-ball player on offense, rather than as the primary creator in Washington. It’s a shift that has yet to improve his efficiency on offense, but has done wonders for the guard on defense.
McCollum has a -0.9 defensive plus-minus in Atlanta, whereas he was a -2.7 in Washington. His greater activity as an on-ball defender has also shown up on the stat sheet, with 24 blocks over his 23 games in Atlanta, compared to just 9 in Washington.
It’s unclear if McCollum would’ve been able to fit the same role in Washington. The Wizards don’t have the offensive creators Atlanta does, likely forcing the ball into his hands more often.
The upgrade defensively is tantalizing, though, given how poor Washington’s defense has been. Any help for a unit that ranks dead-last in the NBA in defensive rating would be a huge boost, especially given Young’s own limitations as a defender.
Trae Young’s health has plagued the Wizards.
When comparing Young and McCollum, it’s clear which player is better on offense. Young has a ceiling as an all-star level player, a spectacular passer, and a creator near the rim. McCollum, meanwhile, has never been selected as an all-star and has his fair share of limits as a playmaker.
There is, however, one advantage that McCollum has over Young: availability. Young has played just 15 of 82 games this season, due to a myriad of injuries. McCollum, on the other hand, has played at least 60 games in 4 of the last 5 years.
As the saying goes, “the best ability is availability”. The upside Young brings can only benefit the Wizards if he sees the floor, making the trade for the more dependable McCollum a serious risk.
The Wizards are locked into Young for one more year.
The decision to trade for Trae Young comes with another interesting caveat: Young is locked in for the 2026-27 season, whereas McCollum is expiring.
The extra year will give Washington more time to evaluate Young’s fit with their young core, and decide whether he’ll be a part of their future. In the meantime, the debate over the trade will rage on, living in Wizards fans’ heads for months to come.
Until further notice, this trade continues to look like one that Washington may look back on and regret making.