Changes in management in Atlanta caused Trey Young want to move on after spending more than seven years in the organization, relay Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Appears this week on Michael Porter Jrpodcast (Link to YouTube), Young said he didn’t feel the same support from the front office afterward Onsi Saleh took over as Hawkspresident of basketball operations.
“I love the master, Tony (Ressler)and the whole group of owners and everybody down there.” Young said. “So I really like a lot of people over there in Atlanta, so I never wanted to leave (in) a bad way. But once we got to the third GM and brought in Onsi, it seems like you don’t necessarily feel as comfortable as (when) you got there. … There’s so many things I’ll say later, but sometimes it’s just better to just let it go.”
Former Hawks chief Travis Schlenkwho left the team at the start of the 2022/23 season, now appears Wizards‘ senior vice president of player personnel, so Washington was a logical destination for Young. He appeared in just five games after being traded there in January, but the team offered strong support this summer with the new a four-year, $212 million contract.
Young believed changes were coming in Atlanta if the team didn’t win right away, and he wanted to get ahead of them.
“All of us around me knew that either we were going to be here for a long time and we were going to win, or it might be time for everyone to just go our separate ways,” he said. “We had these conversations with my agent and everything, but I knew it was time, and as far as I was concerned, I wanted to leave the right way. I never wanted to do it as a big deal. I grew up in (Oklahoma City) where I saw (Kevin Durant) to be killed for leaving and going a certain way, and I didn’t want that feeling.”
More on Wizards:
- In an interview with Mark Medina from WGYoung’s trainer struggles with his client’s criticism. Travel Gaines claims Young never complained during a season that changed the trajectory of his career due to a trade and injuries that limited him to 15 games. “He always just said, ‘I’ll be ready to get back on the court.'” Gaines said. “…He wants to put in the work. He’s the ultimate professional. He understands that hard work will get him where he wants to go. From my perspective, it’s about how can Trey be in the best possible shape to play 82 games and help his team win?”
- General manager Will Dawkins will have a chance to set expectations for the upcoming season when he holds his annual preseason press conference on Thursday morning, for Ahmed Ghafir of Yahoo Sports. Ghafir cites several topics that Dawkins should address, including status Anthony Davis‘a contract among a the report that the two sides discussed an extension, a likely fifth starter and how the coaching staff plans to distribute minutes on an improved roster.
- Bringing together veterans Young, Davis, Chris Middleton and Deandre Ayton with a set of prospects making the Wizards the NBA’s “most surprising draft group,” according to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports. He examines whether Young can learn to be effective playing without the ball, and whether veterans can help without hindering the growth of young talent.
