Luka Doncic was amazed when he was given the news about the Atlanta Hawks’ latest move, trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The LA Lakers guard expressed “a lot of respect” for Young, while wishing him luck on a new journey.
The bond between Doncic and Young goes back to 2018, the year they were drafted by the Hawks and the Mavericks, respectively. However, the two were immediately traded by their respective drafting teams, as the rookie from Oklahoma was believed to become the face of the franchise in Atlanta.
ESPN Journalist Dave McMenamin referred to that memory, asking the Slovenian about his thoughts on the recent trade, during a post-game presser after the Lakers’ loss against the San Antonio Spurs. Replying to the question, Luka Doncic said:
“It’s been a lot of talk about me and him. I have a lot of respect for him. So if he’s excited for this new journey, I’m excited for him.”
While individual accolades of Trae Young have been unquestionable since he arrived in the league, the same cannot be said about the Hawks team. Ice Trae led the Atlanta side to three postseasons and one Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 and leads the franchise in assists (4,837) and three-pointers (1,295). However, the championship section is still empty, which could have led the team to consider regrouping.
“I love him as a teammate… An Atlanta legend,” Mouhamed Gueye praises Trae Young after trade news
The Atlanta Hawks registered a thumping win against the New Orleans Pelicans (117-100), with all starters getting to double figures. While Zaccharie Risacher led the scoring with 25 points, Mouhamed Gueye led the rebounds column with 11 boards. Surprised to know that the trade news got public, Gueye let his feelings out on Trae Young, saying:
“When I first got here, he was one of the first guys that texted me, welcoming me to the city, gave me a lot of advice. Obviously, playing with Trae, as a big, is like a dream come true. I love him as a guy. I love him as a teammate. … An Atlanta legend.”
Trae Young was already on the bench for the last six games, nursing a right quad contusion due to a right MCL sprain earlier in the season. He played 10 games for the Hawks, averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists while shooting 41.5% from the field. With a renewed roster, the team will now look to capitalize on its wing depth, playing through CJ McCollum, and improve on its 18-21 record.
KEEP READING: “Trade Value Of Doom And Hell”: NBA Fans React as Trae Young To Wizards Trade Finalizes With No Draft Capital Involved
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