The Atlanta Hawks moved on from Trae Young, sending the two-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards, and are now targeting Anthony Davis as their next cornerstone, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “On the Atlanta side of this deal, it sets the Hawks with additional financial flexibility to be active on the trade front to land another big-name player and another major salary in that being Anthony Davis this season,” Charania reported on Wednesday.
Young, 27, had expressed a desire to lead Washington’s rebuild, while Atlanta opted not to offer a contract extension and instead secured veterans CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Charania noted, “This is a Hawks team that will turn the page with their young core led by Jalen Johnson and bring in CJ McCollum immediately, a plug-and-play veteran who can space the floor.”
The Hawks now have cap space to pursue a high-profile addition. Davis, 32, is in the first year of a three-year, $175 million deal with a player option in the final season, giving Atlanta the flexibility to explore a trade. Davis is averaging 20.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game this season for the Mavericks while shooting 50.6% from the field.
Atlanta’s young core features Jalen Johnson, who leads the team with 23.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and Onyeka Okongwu, contributing 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds. With McCollum and Kispert joining the rotation, the Hawks aim to balance veteran leadership with their developing talent.
Charania emphasized that the move is part of Atlanta’s long-term vision. “They are moving toward figuring out if there is a big salary player that could bring in, potentially Anthony Davis,” he said, signaling the organization’s willingness to reshape the roster around a superstar big man.
Atlanta currently sits 9th in the Eastern Conference with an 18-21 record, trailing Detroit and New York but maintaining playoff positioning. The addition of a player like Davis could accelerate the team’s contention window while stabilizing the lineup after Young’s departure.
The Hawks are expected to remain active ahead of the trade deadline, leveraging their cap flexibility and veteran acquisitions to make a push for elite talent. The team’s focus on pairing Davis with its rising stars marks a strategic shift toward building a competitive roster capable of sustained success in the Eastern Conference.
