Farewell to an iconic franchise

ATLANTA, Ga. – With about 35 seconds left in the game, Trae Young walked from the end of the bench towards the tunnel, and shook hands with the fans several times on the way out. The camera followed him as he made his way back, and it was a picture of the final moments of Young’s tenure in the Atlanta Hawks eight seasons, as it was announced during the game traded to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

It was a trade that seemed inevitable, especially after the last few days when trade rumors have heated up. Despite the rumors, Young went out and threw a few shots during the game (ruled out with a right quad injury), and sat with the team during the game.

When the three-pointer started, he cheered. When Mouhamed Gueie and Nickel Alexander-Walker had back-to-back blocks late in the second half, he rose from his seat. By law he was still a Hawk at the time, but he felt he had one foot in and one foot out.

He shared laughs with assistant coaches and hugged teammates during timeouts. After the trade was announced, he went up to comedian DC Young Flee and showed him some love. Then everything started to come together.

After the win against the New Orleans Pelicans, Young reportedly talked to the team in the locker room.

“It was deep,” Zachary Rizacher said. “It was a lot of emotions… He let us know that he’ll always be there for us no matter what and he’ll be happy to see us succeed, and that’s how we feel about him.”

“I just arrived last season but I feel like it’s a legacy and I’ve been lucky to be a part of it.

Jalen Johnsonwho is now the next franchise star for the Hawks, had nothing but good things to say about Young and what he has meant to him over the years.

“Trey was great. Just from day one, he always showed me love,” Johnson said. “I really appreciate the time we spent together and everything he’s done for this organization and what he’s done for me. I’m excited for him and his next step in Washington.”

Young has been a mainstay for the Hawks since joining the team, and has been one of the better point guards in the league during that time. A four-time All-Star and the league’s assists leader as of last season, Young has elevated every player he’s played with while simultaneously developing his own game.

It was last season Young’s duty to help lead the young core that the Hawks were building, and two of those players were Risacher and Mouhamed Gueie.

“He’s my guy, that’s my brother,” Risacher said. “He was one of the first people I met in this organization, and from day one he always had my back. I want what’s best for him. If he’s happy, I’m always happy for him.”

“He’s the first guy to welcome me to town,” Gueie said. “I love him as a guy. I love him as a teammate.”

Even with the team they built around him this season, players like Kristaps Porzingis seemed excited to play alongside him. Unfortunately, they hardly saw each other on the field due to injuries.

“He’s one of the best passers I’ve played with, and I think everyone has benefited from playing with him,” Porzingis said. “Offensively, he’s really a wizard. He’s an amazing player and I’m sad I didn’t have more time with him.”

Now each side will go their separate ways hoping to achieve success on their own path. Young now finds himself on another team with young, developing talent as the Hawks continue to build the core they have with a chance to add more pieces.