Trae Young is the hottest name in trade talks today, and for good reason. The four-time All-Star is one of the best facilitators in the league, and there are multiple NBA teams that could use an upgrade at the point guard position.
It was just a matter of time before fans got the scoop on the exact names of franchises gunning for Young before the February 5 trade deadline. Sure enough, NBA insider Mike Scotto name-dropped a number of teams in a report published on Tuesday.
“The Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers have monitored Young’s situation, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
The Bucks, Timberwolves, and Clippers are monitoring Trae Young’s situation in Atlanta, per @MikeAScotto
“The Washington Wizards have discussed a trade for Young centered around CJ McCollum’s $30.67 million expiring contract, as The Stein Line first reported. Stein also notes… pic.twitter.com/fTy0Zctse6
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 6, 2026
The Bucks, Timberwolves, and Clippers all have one thing in common: the serious need for a young court general who can be a pillar for the future. Trae Young fits this description to a tee, as he led the league in assists last season while also dishing out 8.9 assists in an injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign.
Of course, there has been one Eastern Conference team most closely linked to Young in recent weeks. In his report, Scotto acknowledged the Washington Wizards’ interest as cited by another insider.
“The Washington Wizards have discussed a trade for Young centered around CJ McCollum’s $30.67 million expiring contract, as The Stein Line first reported,” Scotto added. “Stein also notes that the Wizards would likely seek additional draft capital, as Young has a $48.97 million player option for next season.”
Any team targeting Trae Young will certainly weigh the pros and cons of acquiring the 6-foot-2 combo guard, as his defensive skills leave much to be desired. Still, there’s no denying that a Young move is imminent at this point.
3x All-Star Comes to Trae Young’s Defense as Hawks Star Comes Under Fire
Amidst all the trade buzz, Trae Young’s detractors continue to take aim at his playing style and perceived shortcomings. In the eyes of three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas, current players who criticize Young need to think twice about what they’re saying.
“I don’t get how dudes say they hate playing with Trae Young,” Arenas tweeted on Monday. “The man averages 9 assists, throwing lobs like it’s a dunk contest.
Arenas added that players who grumble about playing with Young, would have “hated” playing with him during his heyday in the 2000s.
