Trae Young is staying in Washington. The All-Star guard agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal with the Wizards on Monday, according to multiple reports, just days after declining his $48.97 million player option for the upcoming season.
The new contract includes another player option in its fourth year, according to ESPN. The nine-figure deal falls short of the maximum the Wizards could’ve offered Young, but is equal to what the Oklahoma product could’ve received from opposing teams.
The Wizards traded for Young during the middle of last season, sending Corey Kispert and C.J. McCollum to the Atlanta Hawks in the exchange.
Young, a four-time All-Star who has averaged 25.1 points and 9.8 assists per game across his career, was limited by leg injuries last season. He appeared in just five games for the Wizards, posting 15.2 points per outing in limited minutes, before the franchise sat him on the bench to prevent further injuries.
But Young has openly embraced the District since the midseason trade. A report from ESPN indicated that Washington was the only destination that interested Young in a potential move. He was the face of the Wizards jersey roll-out for their cherry blossom uniforms and has been openly optimistic about the franchise’s future in conversations with the media.
“It’s just the start of something special,” Young said at the end of the season. “I’m happy I’m here.”
The trade for Young marked a shift in approach for the Wizards, who have been mired in a seemingly eternal rebuild. General manager Will Dawkins has typically been focused on shipping veteran players to contenders in exchange for prospects and draft picks as the Wizards plan for the future.
Young, a 27-year-old who is near his prime, bucks that trend.
The Wizards continued to push their chips in by trading for forward Anthony Davis in February. The 10-time All-Star is widely considered one of the top defenders in the league. He was the focal point in the trade that sent All-Pro Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.
Davis did not suit up for the Wizards as he recovered from a hand injury. He is expected to be cleared to start the 2026-27 campaign.
Though the Wizards finished with an abysmal 17-65 record, optimism is bubbling around the organization. The growth of a young core, anchored by 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr and 2025 first-rounder Tre Johnson, has spurred that enthusiasm.
“People are talking about our team. People are excited. People around the league are like, ’Hey, who knows what could happen?’” Davis said in April. “When you add a guy like myself and Trae, and these young guys who can play. Now, we’re talking about a level of fear.”
The Wizards also have the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, which begins on Tuesday night.
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