Trae Young Reportedly Declines $49M Player Option on Wizards Contract, Latest FA Rumors on Star PG

Trae Young will reportedly test free agency after half a season with the Washington Wizards.

Marc J. Spears of ESPN reported Wednesday the guard plans to decline his $49 million player option, although the Wizards still remain the "front-runner" to sign him even though "he still expects multiple team max interest."

Young played last season under a $46.4 million cap hit, per Spotrac.

The Atlanta Hawks traded Young to the Wizards on Jan. 7 in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

Young, formerly the face of Atlanta's franchise, was playing in his eighth season with the Hawks. He led the NBA with 11.6 assists per game in his last full season with the franchise in 2024-25.

Multiple injuries, including a sprained right MCL that sidelined him for 22 games over the fall, limited him to just 10 games of the 2025-26 campaign prior to the trade.

Even when available, Young's production had dropped to 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game before he was moved to Washington.

He went on to average 15.2 points and 6.2 assists in five games for the Wizards before he was shut down for the season with a quad injury.

The Wizards are hoping to take a step toward becoming a competitive team built with Anthony Davis in a veteran role alongside up-and-coming players like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson as well as the top pick of the 2026 NBA draft.

Whether the Wizards feel Young is a long-term fit with this core could influence how much the franchise competes for his services in upcoming free agency, but Spears' report suggests there is mutual interest.