All the Reasons Washington Wizards Should Stay Away From Rumored Trae Young Trade
If it wasn't trade season already, ESPN's Shams Charania tipped off for real on Monday, when he reported on the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young's apparent mutual interest in a separation.
The news shouldn't be particularly surprising. Atlanta declined to give Trae an extension this past offseason. The team is now 2-8 in games he's played in 2025-26. And in his absence, Jalen Johnson has emerged as a bona fide star who is both bigger and has significantly higher defensive upside.
What may be surprising, on the other hand, is the team that's reportedly interested.
In the wake of Charania's report, Marc Stein added "The [Washington] Wizards have emerged as a legitimate potential trade destination for Atlanta's Trae Young... in a deal construction centered around CJ McCollum's expiring contract."
The question now is: Why?
Why would a team seemingly at the outset of a rebuild commit to the identity that comes with Young? Why make a move that might make you marginally better when you should be chasing draft lottery odds?
Whatever Washington's reasons, we're here to explain why they're wrong.
Trae Young Locks You Into an Offense-First (and Only) Identity
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There's no question Young is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NBA. He has been throughout his career.
Since he entered the league, the Hawks have scored 116.9 points per 100 possessions with Young on the floor and 110.1 when he's off.
Though he's struggled with his own shooting efficiency, the willingness to take deep threes puts perimeter defenses on notice. And his playmaking undoubtedly makes everyone else's shots easier. As a team, Atlanta shoots better both from two- and three-point range when Young plays.
That's all great, and what he might do for the offensive games of prospects like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson is an important consideration.
But as much as Young can positively impact the statistical profile of a team offense, teammates have reportedly struggled with his ball-dominant style. And what he generates on offense is often outweighed by what he gives up on the other end.
The Hawks' defense has been worse when Young plays in seven of his eight seasons. In 2025-26 alone, they give up a seemingly impossible 15.0 more points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor.
He's always a target for opposing attacks. He's one of the one-on-one matchups to beat from the perimeter. He gets lost off the ball and on screens. Most concerning, his effort on that end of the floor can disappear in an instant.
And if he's suddenly the Wizards' most talented and highest-paid player, there's at least a chance he'll bring the offense-first (and only) identity that's kept the Hawks from meaningfully contending during most of his time in Atlanta.
Trae Young's Impending Free Agency
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Trae Young has a $49 million player option for 2026-27. There's at least a chance he'll pick that up, but max players (or formerly max players) who are still in their 20s and productive (Young's averaged 25.9 points and 10.5 assists over the last five years) typically opt out in these situations.
Washington trading for Trae now would essentially be signing up to deal with his free agency. Keeping him could take the kind of contract that tightens up a team's books for half a decade. Giving up assets only to lose him a few months later would be a disaster (though The Ringer's Zach Lowe hinted that Washington might actually be the team getting assets in a Young deal).
Life in the Wizards' front office just feels like it'd be a lot simpler if they kept CJ McCollum, let his contract expire and entered the 2026 offseason with more financial flexibility.
Trae Young Could Hurt Washington's Lottery Odds
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You could make a reasonable argument that McCollum actually hurts the Wizards lottery odds more than Young would. He's a more consistent shooter and often less of a ball-stopper.
But McCollum is 34 years old (seven years older than Young). At this point in their careers, Young probably has more raw talent and explosiveness. At the very least, Young could do more to add wins in the short term than a McCollum salary dump would.
And right now, the Wizards should absolutely be chasing losses.
There are some interesting young talents already on the roster, including Sarr, George and Johnson, but no one has really flashed superstar upside yet. This draft class has at least three players who could check that box in AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.
Washington's already decent young core would be supercharged by one of the above, and it shouldn't be doing anything to hurt the chances of landing a potential franchise cornerstone several years younger than Trae.
Trae Young Could Frustrate the Development of the Young Wizards
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Beyond potentially frustrating the team's chances to land a top-three pick in the draft, Young being on the Wizards would undoubtedly take on-ball opportunities away from prospects like Sarr and Johnson.
Both could be All-Stars, and letting them work through growing pains as primary creators will get them there sooner.
As a starter, Johnson is averaging 14.1 points and shooting 52.3 percent from deep. When McCollum is off the floor, Sarr is putting up 19.5 points and 3.4 assists per 75 possessions.
Both should be getting more time in those roles—not less.
Of course, the calculus of all of the above would change a bit if Atlanta was, as Lowe suggested, possibly willing to attach assets to Trae. But even if we're talking about something close to a straight swap of Young and McCollum, it just doesn't make much sense for the Wizards to do this.
