The Washington Wizards have made costly investments in the past, and while some fans will criticize their long-term vision once again, the organization clearly believes it traded for the right point guard back in January. Trae Young intends to sign a four-year, $212 million contract to remain in D.C., per ESPN's Shams Charania.
The four-time All-Star declined his $49 million player option, which led to speculation that he could join another squad in free agency. Those rumors are obviously false. Young will be a core member of the Wizards for the foreseeable future.
Washington showed a lack of foresight when it committed to Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole in recent years, so this latest signing is bound to make fans twitch a bit. There are plenty of people who would prefer that management just stays the course and pushes through this arduous rebuild. The Wizards have grown tired of irrelevancy, however.
Young briefly revitalized an Atlanta Hawks franchise that had become stagnant. Can he have a similar effect at the nation's capital? The 27-year-old averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 59.5 percent in five games played for Washington last season. He is a superb playmaker and a fearless scorer, but Trae Young admittedly plateaued in the ATL.
The Wizards cannot withstand a similar trend. They are desperate for a genuine breakthrough, one that positions them for sustained success.
This team is trusting the 2024-25 assists king (and Anthony Davis) to elevate the promising talent on this roster, which will soon include the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The cost of that service is high, but if general manager Will Dawkins is correct, then Washington will finally turn a corner.
Either way, this is a huge move that will certainly be revisited down the road.
