Trae Young gives reasons for Hawks exit: “The pain of staying the same”

As the dust settles on the news that Trae Young is leaving the Atlanta Hawks, the four-time NBA All-Star has addressed his shock departure.

After seven years with Atlanta, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, Young has been traded to the Washington Wizards. Speaking on social media, Young addressed Hawks fans and explained the reasons for the move.

“The last few years weren’t how I wanted them to be,” Young said. “Expectations that we created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before.

“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.”

“The pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change. Change is often met with fear, but I see it as another opportunity,” he continued.

In the end the deal may serve all parties well. The Wizards get an elite offensive talent, a player that can help their young prospects develop into a top team. Young gets to be the centerpiece once again, as he was for a successful spell in Atlanta.

For the Hawks, they get out from the $95 million remaining on Young’s current deal. The team is reportedly eyeing a refresh and that additional flexibility on wages will help them retool, potentially facilitating a deal to bring in Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks. More work would be needed to free up cap space for the Hawks but Atlanta reportedly have a real interest in the 32-year-old.

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