Since being acquired in a mid-season trade, Trae Young has been widely expected to forgo his $49MM player option for next season in order to sign a multiyear deal with the Wizards.
Reporting in the wake of that trade suggested that a three-year contract in the range of $120MM might makes sense for Young and the Wizards. According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscriber link), those are still the ballpark figures being projected for the four-time All-Star.
Young will have to make a decision on his player option by June 23, the first night of the 2026 draft. If he declines the option, he could sign a three-year extension worth up to as much as $156MM before June 30 or could wait until July to sign for up to four years and $222.8MM. Picking up the option would lock in his $49MM salary for next season, but he and the Wizards could still tack on more years with a new extension beginning in July.
Young struggled to stay healthy this season, playing just 15 games total as he dealt with a knee strain early in the year and quad and back injuries later in the season. He played five games for Washington following the January trade, averaging 15.2 points and 6.2 assists on .595/.429/.708 shooting splits in 20.8 minutes per game.
The Wizards were the worst team in the league this season, but will add the No. 1 overall pick, plus Young and Anthony Davis, who didn’t play a game for them this season after being traded from Dallas in February, as they look to rebuild on the fly.
Young, Davis, former No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, and whoever the team selects first overall are the only players on the roster set to earn more than $10MM per year over the next two seasons, which gives the Wizards considerable flexibility as they look to turn the team around and become competitive again.
Their flexibility will disappear quickly when their young guys are off rookie deals. This next season should decide who they should keep and it can’t be everybody.
Funny to see a last sentence stating that the Wizards ” look to turn the team around and become competitive again.”
They haven’t been competitive since the ’70s, unless you call losing in the 2nd rd competitive.
Only eight teams make it to the second round. If you’re one of the eight I’d say you’re competitive. Not necessarily championship-caliber, but competitive at least.
I’m excited about the Wiz. I like the roster. I think they can make some noise in the East.
But of course betting on AD’s health is not a wize move.
I’m just excited that most of the tanking teams plan to try to compete, Wizards included.