Trae Young is staying in the nation’s capital.
The point guard intends to sign a four-year, $212 million deal with the Wizards after declining his one-year player option, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The guard declined his player option to commit to Washington long-term. Young joined the franchise after being traded to Washington during the 2025-26 season. The Hawks traded him to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
McCollum and Kispert helped the Hawks in the playoffs before the team lost to the Knicks in the first round. The same couldn’t be said for Young, who only appeared in five games with the Wizards because of injuries.
When healthy, Young is a top point guard in the league. Throughout his career, Young averaged 18 points and eight assists per game. He spent his entire career on the Hawks after being drafted fifth overall in 2018.
Even if Young had been healthy, it would not have helped the struggling Wizards, who finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, winning just 17 games.
When the deal is signed, it means the Knicks’ villain from 2021 will stay in the East even longer. The reputation came after his Hawks team knocked the Knicks out in the first round of the playoffs that season.
Young and forward Anthony Davis bolster a young and inexperienced Washington roster. The squad is projected to get even younger as the Wizards have the first pick in Tuesday’s NBA Draft.
Many believe that the first name off the board will be BYU forward AJ Dybansta as the Wizards look for a turnaround next season.