Running With The Timberwolves | A Timberwolves Podcast · Gabe Anderson, Bleav

Trae Young TRADED To The Wizards! Instant Reaction!

·23 min·2 clips

The host grades the Trae Young trade an A for the Wizards, arguing it brings needed buzz to a struggling franchise.

This episode is a solo reaction to the NBA trade sending Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards for Cody Kispert and CJ McCollum. The host, Belize, runs a Timberwolves-focused podcast but breaks format to analyze this league-wide move. He frames this as the first major domino of the trade season. Belize gives the Wizards an "A" grade for acquiring Trae Young, arguing the move is about generating excitement and selling tickets for a struggling franchise. He notes Young's career averages near 25 points and 9 assists per game. The host speculates a Young and Alex Sarr pick-and-roll could be lethal for Washington. He points out the Wizards' current 10-26 record and believes they have a legitimate shot at the 10th seed in the weaker Eastern Conference. For Atlanta, Belize assigns a "B-minus" grade, criticizing the lack of draft capital in the return. He states the Hawks are now Jalen Johnson's team and suggests they may start Nikhil Alexander-Walker at point guard. A surprising claim is that both Trae Young and Luka Dončić, who were traded for each other on draft night, are now on different teams from the ones that drafted them. Belize finds it interesting that Young goes from playing with the #1 pick (Zaccharie Risacher) in Atlanta to the #2 pick (Alex Sarr) in Washington. He argues that for a casual fan, having a recognizable star like Young—who famously bowed at Madison Square Garden—makes the team a more compelling ticket purchase. The host contends that Young could win the Wizards "a couple games" they otherwise wouldn't, which matters for a play-in hopeful. The tone is conversational, enthusiastic, and free-form, as the host admits he recorded this immediately after playing basketball with minimal prep. The style blends instant analysis with broader commentary on franchise building and fan engagement. NBA fans who enjoy immediate, opinionated trade reactions and discussions about team strategy beyond just championship contention would love this episode. Listeners strictly seeking Minnesota Timberwolves analysis or highly structured, stat-heavy breakdowns might want to skip this particular episode.

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