
Hawks’ Saleh defends Trae Young trade, highlighting future flexibility and fit
Hawks GM Onsi Saleh said the team acted decisively to trade Trae Young, thanking him for his impact while praising the return of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert as a fit for now and the future. He emphasized cap flexibility for 2026-27 and the development of a young core around players like Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, noting the deal was about long-term organizational benefit rather than holding out for a better offer. Saleh did not discuss McCollum extension talks.













