Matt Johnson
The future is bright for the Washington Wizards, with the team both holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and a core of Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. Now, months after acquiring Young at a bargain rate, it’s time for the club to sign him to a new deal.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported over the weekend that the early projections for a new deal with Young sit at $120 million over three years.
- Trae Young stats: 15.2 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.0 RPG, 59.5% FG, 1.8 3PM per game, 42.9% 3PT in five games with the Wizards
Young, who turns 28 years old in September, was acquired by the Wizards in January in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. He is under contract for next season with a player option at $48.967 million.
As Stein noted, Young is eligible for a three-year extension up to nearly $160 million. However, given his defensive issues and NBA teams increasingly growing hesitant to build around undersized guards who are liabilities on defense, he won’t get that $50-plus million AAV anywhere.
Assuming Young signs a three-year deal in the ballpark of $120 million, a $40 million average annual value, he would rank as the 10th-highest-paid point guard in the NBA.
Once Young’s contract matter is settled and the Wizards make the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the focus will then shift to Davis’ future. The perennial All-Star forward hasn’t exactly expressed excitement for remaining with the Wizards long-term, as he seeks a new contract, but it’s also unclear exactly how much of a trade market there is for him.
