Trae Young Rumors on Injury Recovery, Timeline to Debut for Wizards After Trade
The Washington Wizards will have to wait at least a month to see their new star in action.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Trae Young is still recovering from MCL and quad injuries in his right leg and is set to be re-evaluated after the All-Star break in mid-February.
According to Charania, the team is "taking a cautious approach" to Young's injuries.
The Atlanta Hawks traded Young to the Wizards last week in return for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert, marking the end of Young's time as the face of the franchise in Atlanta.
Unfortunately for Young, he didn't get to suit up for the Hawks much this season before being dealt. He played the first five games of the year before suffering a sprained MCL that left him sidelined for more than a month.
He made his return in mid-December, but played just five games before sustaining a right quad contusion. In 10 contests, he's averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game.
When Young eventually makes his return, he may not be logging big minutes for the Wizards. Josh Robbins of The Athletic noted after the trade that he would be "surprised" if Young plays much as the Wizards look to protect their 2026 first-round pick. Washington's 2026 first-round pick is protected if it's inside the top eight.
There's also no need to rush Young back to the court, considering how the Wizards have started the season. They're currently sitting in 14th place in the East at 10-28 and are far from being playoff contenders, even with the addition of Young.
The best move for Washington may be to let Young return to action only when he feels he's at 100 percent. From there, the Wizards can start planning for a 2026-27 campaign centered around their new point guard.
