The Washington Wizards got their much-awaited star in Trae Young, but what does his addition mean going forward? The bigger question is, is Young just a rental or will he be in DC for the long haul?
“On behalf of the Hawks franchise, I’d like to thank Trae for how he embraced the city of Atlanta and represented the Hawks during his time here, on the court and in the community,” Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh said in a statement today. “Over more than seven seasons, including four All-Star appearances, he cemented himself as a fan favorite and one of the great players in our franchise’s history. We wish Trae and his family all the best.”
Will Trae Young Suit Up For The Wizards and What The Trade Means for the Franchise At The Trade Deadline And Offseason?
While there are several questions the Wizards have to answer, they did make out pretty well. The Wizards just sent out CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Hawks to essentially take Atlanta’s unwanted star and his $49 million player option for next year. McCollum was having a strong season, but the 34-year-old is on an expiring contract and was not in the Wizards’ plans.
Meanwhile, Kispert is an excellent shooter whose role has been reduced this season, in part due to his hamstring injury. Kispert had seen just 32 minutes of action in two games since November 28. He also had three years and $40 million left on his deal.
Young is having the worst shooting season of his career. The 27-year-old also had played in just 10 of Atlanta’s 39 games due to injury. Therefore, there are some questions surrounding the Wizards’ move by NBA personnel.
“I know from a value proposition why you look at it,” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN. “But if I’m the Wizards, just keep being bad, and stuff will figure itself out. I’m not sure why they felt the need to do this.”
“Offense is so easy now,” a Western Conference executive added. “One of the worst teams in the league can still easily put up 115 points in a game. … It’s hard for these small point guards to have real value with how the game is played now.”
Young is the Wizards’ first star since Bradley Beal was shipped to Phoenix in the summer of 2023.
Will Trae Young Suit Up For The Wizards?
Despite Washington reportedly being Young’s preferred destination, it appears the question of whether Young will ever play for the Wizards is legitimate. According to David Aldridge, Sam Amick, and Josh Robbins of The Athletic, the Wizards aren’t in a hurry to rush him back from a quad injury that has kept him out of seven games since December 29.
“We are excited to welcome Trae Young to the Washington Wizards,” general manager Will Dawkins said in a statement released by the Wizards. “It is a rare opportunity to acquire a player of Trae’s skill, accomplishments, and age. Trae plays an exciting brand of basketball and brings a level of confidence and competitiveness that has set him apart in this league.”
“Yong returned from his knee sprain on Dec. 18 and played five games, and last played Dec. 27 before suffering a right quadriceps contusion,” reported The Athletic’s trio. “The sprain, though, is not fully healed, and Washington will give Young as much time as he needs to get completely healthy. He has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season.”
The Athletic did go on to say that the Wizards want to assess how several members of their young core – including Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Tre Johnson – respond to playing alongside Young, so expect the 27-year-old to don the Wizards garb this season.
Young has been declared out for Washington’s home contest against New Orleans. The Wizards have listed the right quad contusion and right knee MCL sprain as reasons for his absence. A reason the Wizards have listed a right knee sprain is that they may use it to limit Young’s playing time.
Washington entered tonight’s game with a 10-26 record, the fourth-worst in the league. The Wizards want to protect their pick swap. If the Wizards finish with one of the eight worst records, they keep their own selection. Otherwise, the pick heads to New York as a result of
Trae Young Has a Decision to Make This Summer
Another part of the equation is Young’s player option. Young has yet to decide whether to opt in.
“While rival teams expect Young to pick up his player option, league sources say,” per The Athletic. “Young has not decided on that front at this point. He is open to the prospect of discussing an extension but is assessing the free agency landscape for this summer, as well.”
Even if Young tests the open market, Washington will likely go “all out” to re-sign him. As the Wizards don’t want to lose him for nothing. It is expected that Young will eventually sign an extension with the Wizards in the range of what Brandon Ingram received from Toronto after his trade from New Orleans, which is around $120 million for three years.
When Young is healthy, he becomes the Wizards’ top offensive playmaker, sliding right into McCollum’s spot/role. The bigger question is who will start alongside Young. Coach Brian Keefe has started 18 different starting lineups. But the Wizards’ best lineup has featured Sarr, Coulibaly, Khris Middleton, and either Johnson or George. The Wizards were 8-9 in the 17 games in which those four and McCollum started together.
What Could Washington Do At The Trade Deadline?
Washington has 14 players on standard contracts with a salary cap hit of $161 million. The Wizards are $30 million below the tax threshold, so they have plenty of flexibility. The next move for the Wizards will likely be to move on from Middleton, who is on an expiring contract.
While it is no guarantee that the Wizards can move him, it may be in their best interest to keep their own first-round pick this year. Middleton isn’t having a great year, but the 34-year-old can still score — reaching double figures in 13 of his 24 appearances — and is a reliable shot-creator who can guard the two or three. He has also recorded two double-doubles this year.
If Middleton is dealt, Washington should be able to get at least a pair of second-rounders and a couple of players on expiring contracts. The Knicks, Cavs, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, and Sixers are possible suitors.
Marvin Bagley III and Justin Champaignie are potential other trade candidates. Bagley III is having a great season and is on an expiring contract. Champaignie is a young, reliable reserve with a very team-friendly contract and is likely more valuable to the Wizards than other teams. Neither player would likely bring anything other than a future second-round pick back to the Wizards.
In addition, Washington is expected to promote Tristan Vukcevic to a standard contract. Vukcevic, the No. 42 pick in 2023, has been productive in his three seasons with the Wizards. He has already played in 27 of his permitted 50 games this year.
What About The Offseason?
Washington only has 10 players under contract for the 2026-27 season and projects to have $45.9 million in cap space. That salary cap number assumes Young will opt into his option.
Washington figures to maintain their rebuild this offseason. However, how Young fits with the Wizards’ youngsters will ultimately affect the franchise’s future decisions. If the Wizards keep their own first-round pick, it will be a high-to-mid lottery pick. They also have four second-round selections this summer.
© Bill Streicher, Imagn Images