Trae Young Explains Desire to Play for Wizards After Hawks Trade, Says DC Is 'Overlooked'
Trae Young said shortly after his trade from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards he feels Washington D.C. is an underrated basketball market.
"D.C. is overlooked, as far as a big market," Young said Friday during his introductory press conference with the Wizards. "In the NBA, I feel like this is a big market."
Young indicated that he now hopes to take on a leadership role on a young Wizards roster.
"There's so many young guys here, and they're so mature, too," Young said. "As young as they are, you can see the maturity in them, the want to learn. Some of them have been asking me questions already... those guys are just sponges, you can tell, and they are gym rats."
The Hawks traded Young to the Wizards on Wednesday in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Young said he planned on working to build "chemistry" with his new teammates as soon as he is able to return to the court with the Wizards.
"I know, as soon as I run a pick-and-roll with Alex [Sarr], and I get him a little drop-off to a dunk or a lob, or I see Bilal [Coulibaly] cutting and he gets the ball, and it's not just cutting just to cut— that builds chemistry. That builds trust," Young said. "They've gotta know I give effort on the other end, too. They're gonna see that, and that's how you build trust with your teammates."
It's not yet clear when Young will be able to make his Wizards debut, however.
The 27-year-old has been limited to just 10 games so far this season aid multiple injuries, most recently including a right quad contusion and right knee MCL sprain.
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe said Friday team's top priority was to "get him healthy" before determining a more concrete return timeline for Young.
Young added that it would be up to the team to decide when he was able to return, but that it would be "hopefully soon."
The Wizards are sitting 14th in the East after a 10-26 start to the season. Young has already been listed as out for the team's Friday night matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
