Once the trade sending Trae Young to Washington is officially complete, the Wizards and their new starting point guard will be open to exploring a potential contract extension, but it won’t be “top of mind,” reports ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne (Twitter link).
As Shelburne explains, both the Wizards and Young may take the opportunity to evaluate the situation and the fit before making a decision on their long-term future together. That process could extend to the 2026/27 season, since Young holds a $49MM player option that he could pick up if he doesn’t sign an extension and doesn’t want to test the free agent market.
If Young were to sign an extension with the Wizards in the coming months, it would require him to turn down his option and replace it with a new deal starting in ’26/27. An agreement between the two sides could tack on a maximum of three years to the current season.
If Young picks up his option in June, he would be eligible during the offseason to sign an extension that begins in ’27/28 and adds up to four new seasons to his option year.
Here’s much more on the first trade of the 2025/26 NBA season:
- Young’s contract includes a 15% trade kicker, and there has been no indication that he won’t receive his bonus as part of the trade. However, trade bonuses don’t apply to option years and can’t increase a player’s salary beyond his maximum for that year. Young currently has a $45,999,660 cap hit for this season and his maximum salary would be $46,394,100, so if he receives his full bonus, he’ll get a $394,440 bump.
- The Hawks are sending out more salary than they’re taking back in the deal and will generate a small traded player exception as a result. That exception will be worth $1,357,994.
- Having cleared Young’s salary from their books for next season, the Hawks are considered likely to remain in pursuit of Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, ESPN’s Shams Charania said on Wednesday evening during an appearance on NBA Countdown (Twitter video link). As John Hollinger of The Athletic observes, CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert can’t have their salaries aggregated in a second trade prior to the February 5 deadline, so any Atlanta package for Davis ($54.1MM) would have to start with the expiring contracts of Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7MM) and Luke Kennard ($11MM), and it may have to include Zaccharie Risacher ($13.2MM) too.
- The Wizards will open up a roster spot once the trade is complete, and Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link) suggests it could be used to promote two-way player Tristan Vukcevic to a standard multiyear contract. Washington may wait on that until after the trade deadline, since Vukcevic won’t hit his 50-game limit for another month or so, and maintaining roster flexibility could help the team accommodate another deadline deal.
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN thinks the trade could be a win-win for the Wizards and Hawks, giving both teams a grade of B for the deal. Zach Harper of The Athletic is far less bullish on the move from Atlanta’s perspective, assigning the Hawks a D-plus grade while giving Washington an A.
- McCollum told Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime (Twitter link) that he “loved” his brief time in D.C. but is looking forward to joining the Hawks. “(The Wizards’) organization was great to my family and I,” McCollum said. “(Executives) Michael Winger and Will (Dawkins) did everything they said they would and kept their word from the very beginning. Love the city and they’re doing things the right way over there. Excited to get to the A and get to work. Very familiar with their style of play. Love the ownership group and front office. Good group of players.”
I don’t get Pelton’s ratings. They always seem all
over the map. ATL trades a guy they once saw as a franchise player for an end of career McCollum and Corey freakin Kispert and that is a B??? I guess given where they are it is an ok trade, but to consider that return for a centerpiece anything but an admission of failure seems strange to me.
Hawks got rid of albatross, acquired to rotational pieces, one of which is expiring and other just 10 mil. If they let Porz expire Hawks will position themselves as major player this summer. Top3 pick and huge cap space.
The “once saw as a franchise player” answers your own question. He is no longer a franchise player. While he is still a solid player on offense, his defense is horrendous. You just don’t want a player who can pick up a $49 million dollar option on your team if he is essentially providing no real benefit.
The Hawks got rid of someone not currently helping the team while putting them in a much better financial situation to add pieces to help the new wave of youth in Atlanta. McCollum and Kispert are certainly not better than Trae overall, but the fit is better with McCollum likely running the second team and Kispert being a replacement for Kennard if they package him in a separate move as a salary matching piece.
I would say that I don’t get the Zach Harper grade. I am not certain it should be a B, but certainly not a D-plus. I don’t have access to see his reasoning, but seems a bit harsh.
Point Guards don’t really have to be beasts on defense.
No, but they also can’t be amongst the biggest liabilities in the league
I will take his double double and live with his point guard defense. The hawks got taken.
So I guess what I am saying is they drafted this guy, paid him, built a team around him then essentially dump him. You are right he needed to be traded, but if that is the case then what were the last seven years about? That is my point. If this is what he is worth then what the heck were you doing the last 7 years. I mean I guess it is good to have some self reflection and be willing to cut your losses. That being said, Trae has been the same player this whole time. The hawks signed that contract same as Trae. They tried to build this team with him as the man. They didn’t have to do that. They could have gone a different direction long ago. So sure, given his value today the trade is fine, but couldn’t they have seen this coming before they got here?
Imagine 5 years ago I told you Trae Young was dealt and the return was a veteran 3 pt shooter.
This move is not about talent. It’s about shifting money to THEN accrue talent. Hawks may not make the playoffs off this move, but 26-27 is going to be fun to watch.
They should wait to complete the deal.
Atlanta could then still include McCollum or Kispert in a second deal.
And Washington could send out Middleton or Young if the Sixers want to pay for a Paul George salary dump and duck under the luxury tax. Would two first round picks be enough?
I’m not dumping AD this yr. Hawks better up the ante if they want AD. No need for Risacher on Mavs. Better off with Okongwu. And have to add picks. Mavs don’t have to do a salary dump like Hawks did Trae.
I’m Mavs, I want that Pelicans pick.
I think Dallas would be smart to move AD while he’s relatively healthy. We need some interior defense on the Hawks and when healthy AD is a big upgrade. It’s just that word when that concerns me.
AD heard you and got himself injured…
As said: they might wait a while to complete the deal.
On Washington side they could let Kispert and McCollum rest while Young is injured anyways.
Hawks can then use McCollum or Kispert in a second trade.
For Washington, it makes sense if they want to ship Young to another team or send our Middleton while taking back a bad salary for picks. Paul George came to mind already before the season started.
Is shams on the Klutch payroll? Atlanta are the dumbest, scratch that. Anyone who gives up assets for this guy is the dumbest franchise in the league. This reeks of trying to talk something into existence.
Yes, yes he is. 100% confirmed, lol. Classic. Shams and Rich Paul speaking for their client/colleague. We think Ant could possibly get that extension in Atlanta, lols. Don’t fall for the trap. Davis is a endless money pit at this point and doesn’t care about actually competing.