Lakers' Luka Doncic Reacts to Trae Young Being Traded to Wizards from Hawks in Video

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić said he's "excited" for Trae Young after the Atlanta Hawks reportedly agreed to trade the four-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards.

"Obviously, we came in together, we got traded for each other, so it's been a lot of talk about me and him," Dončić said after Wednesday's 107-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. "But we have a good relationship. I have a lot of respect for him. So if he's excited for this new journey, I'm excited for him."

As Dončić said, he and Young will forever be intertwined because they were traded for one another on the night of the 2018 NBA draft. There's an alternate history where Young is a member of the Dallas Mavericks and Luka starts his career in Atlanta.

Dončić also has the experience of being a franchise cornerstone and then getting moved in the middle of the season.

Young's situation was far different, though. While things escalated quickly, his trade was telegraphed in advance. His representatives worked with the Hawks toward his exit.

Dončić's departure from Dallas was a stunner almost nobody foresaw, and it wasn't something he initiated behind the scenes.

Washington is a worse situation for Young in the short term. The Wizards won 33 combined games over the previous two seasons, and they're 14th in the Eastern Conference (10-26) right now.

Second-year center Alex Sarr is making positive strides, however, and the organization can have a lot of financial wiggle room next summer. Over time, the Wizards could prove to be a better setting for Young than Atlanta.