If you were watching the NBA in the summer of 2018, you remember the hype. It wasn't just normal draft chatter. It was a genuine "where were you" moment for basketball junkies. The question of when was trae young drafted isn't just about a date on a calendar; it's about one of the most controversial trades in the history of the league.
Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago.
The Exact Moment It Happened
Trae Young was drafted on June 21, 2018. The event took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. If you want to get technical, he was the 5th overall pick in the first round. But there's a huge catch that most casual fans forget when they look back at the history books.
Trae Young didn't walk across that stage wearing an Atlanta Hawks hat.
He was actually selected by the Dallas Mavericks. He shook Adam Silver’s hand while representing Dallas, but he was a Maverick for about as long as it takes to order a pizza. Within minutes, the draft night blockbuster was announced. The Mavericks traded Young and a protected 2019 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Luka Dončić, who had just been taken 3rd overall.
It was a franchise-altering swap.
One team got the European prodigy. The other got the skinny kid from Oklahoma who played like Stephen Curry on steroids. At the time, pundits were split. Some thought Atlanta was genius for grabbing an extra pick. Others thought they’d just handed away a future MVP.
Why the 2018 Draft Was Such a Big Deal
The 2018 class was absolutely stacked. You had Deandre Ayton going first to Phoenix and Marvin Bagley III going second to Sacramento. Both of those teams passed on Luka, which, looking back now in 2026, feels like a fever dream.
Trae entered the league with a massive target on his back because of that trade.
He was the "guy traded for Luka." That's a heavy mantle for a 19-year-old. But Young wasn't exactly a nobody coming out of college. During his lone season at the University of Oklahoma, he did something literally no one had ever done before. He led the entire NCAA in both points per game (27.4) and assists per game (8.7).
Basically, he was the entire offense.
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When Was Trae Young Drafted: The Context of the Trade
When the Hawks made the move at the 5th spot, their GM at the time, Travis Schlenk, was looking for a specific archetype. He wanted a "heliocentric" playmaker. Someone who could have the ball 90% of the time and either score from the logo or find an open man with a cross-court whip pass.
Trae fit that perfectly.
The deal wasn't just a 1-for-1 swap, though. Atlanta also received a pick that eventually became Cam Reddish. While the Luka vs. Trae debate raged for years, the trade actually worked out for both sides initially. Trae led Atlanta to a shocking Eastern Conference Finals run in 2021, proving he could be a winning lead guard despite his defensive limitations.
Recent Shifts in Trae's Journey
Fast forward to today. The landscape has changed. Just last week, on January 8, 2026, the Atlanta Hawks finally moved on from the "Ice Trae" era. In a move that signaled a total rebuild, Atlanta traded Young to the Washington Wizards.
The return? CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, and some filler.
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It’s a bit of a bittersweet ending for Hawks fans. They loved him. They defended his foul-baiting and his 30-foot heaves for nearly eight years. But as the league stands now, the Wizards are hoping a change of scenery can help Young regain that 2018 magic.
What You Should Know About Trae’s Draft Profile
- College: Oklahoma Sooners (Freshman year).
- Draft Slot: 1st Round, 5th Overall.
- Drafting Team: Dallas Mavericks (Traded immediately to Atlanta).
- The "Other" Guy: Luka Dončić (3rd Overall).
- Accolades Since: 4-time All-Star, All-NBA Third Team (2022), and the 2024-25 Assists Leader.
People often forget how much risk was associated with Trae. He was listed at 6'2", but he looked smaller. He weighed maybe 160 pounds soaking wet on draft night. Scouts worried he’d get bullied. And sure, his defense has always been... let's say "optional." But his offensive engine is undeniable.
The 2018 draft remains the defining moment of his career.
If you're looking to track his impact, you’ve got to look at the numbers. He put up 19.1 points and 8.1 assists as a rookie. By his second year, he was averaging nearly 30 a game. He hit the ground running in a way very few 5th-overall picks ever do.
Whether you think Atlanta "lost" the trade or not, Trae Young gave that franchise a pulse for the better part of a decade.
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Moving Forward
If you're following the NBA today, the best way to keep up with Trae's new chapter is to watch how he integrates with the Wizards' roster. His trade value might have dipped recently due to his massive contract, but he is still one of the most gifted passers on the planet.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Washington Wizards' upcoming schedule to see Trae’s debut in the D.C. jersey.
- Look back at the 2018 draft board to see how many other All-Stars (like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaren Jackson Jr.) were taken after him.
- Monitor Jalen Johnson’s stats in Atlanta to see if the Hawks are actually better off without their long-time floor general.
The story of the 2018 draft isn't over yet, but the Atlanta chapter of Trae Young's career is officially in the books.