Trae Young takes a shot at the Hawks: “My boy is free” after Risacher trade
Trae Young reacted to Zaccharie Risacher’s departure from the Atlanta Hawks with an Instagram comment that many interpreted as a shot at the franchise’s front office
As they say, the sting is often in the tail or – in the social media era – in the Instagram comments. Zaccharie Risacher’s departure from Atlanta has sparked a media frenzy that extends far beyond Georgia. Fueling the controversy was the reaction of Trae Young, the former face of the Hawks who was traded to Washington a few months ago. Young chose to acknowledge the French forward’s move to Dallas with a short but pointed message.
My boy is free! Fly high, killa!
Trae Young
Just a few words, but they quickly spread across social media, with many interpreting them as a direct jab at Atlanta’s front office and organization, suggesting they failed to maximize the potential of their young talent. The comment came in response to the post in which the 2005-born forward said goodbye to the franchise that selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
When I was drafted, I didn’t know what to expect. I was in a new country, at the highest level of basketball, and Atlanta welcomed me with open arms and gave me a home. Some nights were everything I dreamed of, others were tougher than I ever imagined. Every one of them helped me grow. To the franchise, my teammates who became family, and the fans: thank you. You’ll always be part of my story
Zaccharie Risacher
Risacher’s departure came as part of a blockbuster three-team trade that sent the young forward to the Dallas Mavericks. The Hawks received perimeter defender Luguentz Dort and point guard Ryan Nembhard, while the Oklahoma City Thunder added three future second-round picks and created additional salary cap flexibility.
For the 21-year-old Frenchman, the move represents a fresh start after a difficult sophomore season in Atlanta, where he averaged 9.6 points per game while seeing both his playing time and overall impact decline significantly after earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors as a rookie.
In Dallas, he’ll join a revamped roster built around a young core led by Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. Meanwhile, for the Georgia franchise, moving the 2024 No. 1 overall pick marks another step in its post-Trae Young rebuild. Following Young’s February trade and subsequent contract extension with the Washington Wizards at the start of free agency, the keys to the franchise are now firmly in the hands of Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dyson Daniels.