Washington Wizards guard Trae Young plans to decline his $48.97 million option for the 2026-27 season and will become a free agent on Monday, according to Andscape’s Marc Spears. The Wizards reportedly the frontrunner to sign Young long-term, but he expects to get max contract interest from other teams.
Young joined the Wizards via a midseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was once the face of the franchise. That luster has faded in recent years, and his known limitations as a player resulted in Atlanta moving on from him. He wound up playing only five games for Washington last season before getting shut down with lower back pain and a right quad contusion.
The Wizards’ plan since that trade has been clear: Acquire two multi-time All-Stars in Young and Anthony Davis, shut them down as much as possible to tank the remaining season, claim a top pick in one of the most stacked draft classes in NBA history, retain Young long-term and enter next season with more reason for optimism than any season in recent memory.
So far, the plan has gone off without a hitch. The franchise is currently weighing whether to draft A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cam Boozer after winning the lottery. Either way, it will be getting an impact talent to combine with a roster that already had a healthy mix of experience and youth.
That plan depends on retaining Young, though. The 27-year-old has said he wanted to come to Washington originally, which would bode well for the Wizards’ chances. They just have to hope none of the other teams circling are that attractive for Young.
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