The Ringer NBA Show: "Trae Young Traded to the Washington Wizards! Reactions, Grades and More." | Real Ones

Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Logan Murdock & Howard Beck

Overview

This "urgency podcast" (not "emergency," as the hosts wryly clarify) breaks down the blockbuster trade sending Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards in exchange for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert. With no draft picks involved, the move is dissected from all angles: the motivations of both franchises, what it says about Young's value, the strange implications for the Wizards’ rebuild, and how this shapes both teams’ futures. The pod is a lively, skeptical, and slightly bewildered analysis of one of the most surprising deals in recent NBA history.

Trade Details & Immediate Reactions

• Trade Terms:

  • Wizards receive: Trae Young
  • Hawks receive: C.J. McCollum (expiring contract), Corey Kispert
  • No draft picks exchanged

• Surprise Factor:

  • Only the Wizards were interested in Trae Young; there were "no other bidders."
  • The hosts question the logic and timing from both teams, especially Washington.

“When this is being framed as Trae Young picked the Wizards, like…nobody picks the Wizards. I’m sorry, that’s just not a thing that really happens in this league.”
— Howard Beck (06:02)

Key Discussion Points

1. Atlanta’s Motivation (04:00–07:30)

• Atlanta's desire to move on from Trae Young dates back to the prior summer.
• The Hawks are re-centering their young core around Jalen Johnson and restyling themselves as a more defensive-minded team.
• Not extending Young last summer was the clear signal; his value continued to drop amid injuries and questions about his capacity to lead.

“The Hawks made it pretty clear that they were ready to move on from Trae Young as long ago as last summer, when they did not offer him an extension… The writing at that moment, Logan, was on the wall, and the whole league could see it.”
— Howard Beck (03:57)

2. Why Would the Wizards Do This? (07:34–13:56)

• The Wizards, deep in a rebuild and tanking mode, acquire a high-usage, defense-challenged star—an odd piece for their stated goals.
• The team owes a top-eight protected pick to the Knicks and now risks accidentally winning too many games, potentially losing the pick.
• The Wizards FO, led by Michael Winger and Will Dawkins, had previously executed smart, patient moves. This one is “confounding."

“When you already had an expiring in C.J. McCollum … now you traded him for Trae Young, who most definitely is going to … re-up on his player option because why wouldn’t he?... Wizards, what are you doing? What are you doing?”
— Logan Murdock (08:37)

3. Propaganda & The ‘Trae Young Picked D.C.’ Narrative (16:59–22:41)

• The idea that Young “preferred” Washington is challenged by both hosts as obvious spin.
• Trade was sparked by Atlanta’s decision, with Washington as the only suitor. This was not a player-leverage, superstar-style transaction.
• Leaks portraying it as mutual serve PR more than reality.

“Everyone in the NBA knows the Hawks wanted to move on from Trae and not vice versa... It strains all logic, reason, and everything we know about this situation that Trae Young woke up one morning and said, ‘I think I want to be traded to the Washington Wizards.’”
— Howard Beck (20:26)

4. Trae Young’s Atlanta Legacy (23:10–27:39)

• Complicated legacy: Led Hawks to a Conference Finals, kickstarted by the infamous Luka Doncic trade, became a cultural fixture in the city.
• Couldn’t sustain playoff success; defensive issues and coaching changes soured his Atlanta tenure.
• May end up remembered like John Wall in D.C.: beloved, notable, but didn’t ultimately win big.

“He put them back on the map… He had some amazing moments at the Garden and he became a Garden villain and all of that… But ultimately, it’s about winning—and in the last couple of years, they couldn’t even make it to the postseason.”
— Howard Beck (26:16)

5. Hawks’ & Wizards’ Paths Forward (27:39–34:45)

• Atlanta is young, versatile, with salary and asset flexibility—a chance to build patiently or perhaps chase a splashy star (e.g., Anthony Davis or future Giannis sweepstakes).
• Debated whether adding a star like Anthony Davis makes sense; consensus is the Hawks should be patient and not rush their window.
• Wizards: Will Young be a mentor/accelerator for young prospects, or will his presence just muddle the tank?

“Teams that are most successful and flexible are the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs—they did it by being patient.”
— Logan Murdock (33:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Do not make this the Trae Young show in Washington. Look around and see that these are a bunch of young guys who are still learning, and you can be a huge benefit to them… The best case scenario is that he hastens their development, he speeds it up…”
— Howard Beck (36:12)

“A good model for him right now is Chris Paul. I mean…and I know that I’m—the model is one of the greatest leaders of all time… make the best of the situation… be the wily veteran. Take the extension, do his time.”
— Logan Murdock (37:02)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–01:15: Ads, intro
• 01:16: Pod begins, context for emergency/urgency pod
• 03:00–07:30: Atlanta’s motivation to move on; no other bidders
• 07:34–10:51: Questioning the Wizards’ plan
• 10:52–12:30: How this shapes Washington’s trajectory (picks, timeline, reputation)
• 13:57–16:59: Contract angles; Young’s value on the market
• 17:00–22:41: PR spin, skepticism about “preferred destination”
• 23:10–27:39: Trae Young’s Atlanta legacy
• 27:40–34:45: Team-building strategies, possible star trades
• 34:46–37:01: Advice for Trae Young in Washington
• 37:02–39:14: Player models, potential for leadership
• 39:15–44:15: Trade grades and final thoughts on deal rationale
• 44:16–46:11: Press conference speculation and closing thoughts

Trade Grades

Wizards:

• Logan: D / C- (“Put themselves in a position where they have to root against their best player. That's not good.” – 44:00)
• Howard: B- (Reserves judgment: “Giving benefit of the doubt to a smart front office; maybe something we’re missing.”)

Hawks:

• Logan: B+ (“Now they have a clear vision of what they’re going to be.” – 43:59)
• Howard: B- / C+ (Low return but clarifying move for the direction of the franchise)

Conclusion

The Trae Young-to-the-Wizards trade is, in the hosts' view, a puzzling move on Washington’s part that interrupts a logical rebuild for a questionable fit, and a clarifying if underwhelming exit for Atlanta’s former franchise star. Both hosts are left more skeptical than excited, emphasizing that every explanation so far feels like spin, and expecting a weird press conference soon. If there’s a guiding theme, it’s that both teams are in peculiar places—one happy to move on from its old era, the other, perhaps, too eager for a shortcut. As for Trae Young: there’s a “Chris Paul in OKC” path, but also an ego check and career crossroads ahead.

Quick Reference

• Key quote on deal logic:
  “You turned a multiple time all star into a couple of guys… I’m not sure I’ve seen less of a return for a multiple time all star without a catastrophic injury who is just entering his prime… It does speak to how depressed the market was for Trae Young and he should take that personally too.”
  — Howard Beck (42:29)

• Core question:
  “Still weird for me on the trade, because if he does everything he needs to do, then the Wizards aren’t going to get what they want, which is just… [to be bad].”
  — Logan Murdock (38:35)

• Final assessment:
  “Trey Young to the Wizards. Weird. Definitely weird for the Wizards.”
  — Logan Murdock (46:57)

End of summary.