Imagine knowing at the beginning of the season that after the Atlanta Hawks opted not to extend Trae Young, they'd not only trade him (which wasn't a shocker), but they'd send him to Washington, a team that is reportedly willing to extend the guard this summer. Yes, it sounds like he wants to be in D.C.
Marc Stein of The Stein Line touched on Young's future with the Wizards (subscription required), giving some context on what this offseason could look like for both sides:
"I've been repeatedly advised to expect Young and the Wizards to come to terms on a contract extension this summer that is widely projected to be a three-year deal."
Stein added that the Hawks' "unwillingness to sign Young to a new deal" led to the January trade.
Although there were fans who rightfully wanted the front office to come to terms on an extension with Young, its decision not to proved wise. Young missed significant time at the start of the season due to a knee injury, and the team's play without him gave the organization the insight it needed.
Atlanta pivoted in a new direction altogether, shipping its star guard out and making All-Star Jalen Johnson the focal point of the offense.
Wizards and Young expected to agree to a contract extension
Washington is still waiting for Young to take the court. As Stein noted, the Wizards have made it sound like he will make his debut sometime this season, but there is "skepticism" about whether that will happen. The team needs its first-round pick to land in the top eight, or else it will go to the Knicks, and the guard could increase New York's chances of benefiting.
In other words, Washington could pay Young this summer without him playing in a game.
After the trade happened, the guard told Andscape's Marc J. Spears that he wanted to "try to revive the city." He wasn't ready to say he wanted to be with the Wizards long-term, saying he wanted to spend time with his teammates and get to know the city, but he made it clear that he respects those in charge and believes the organization is headed in the right direction.
Washington is currently 16-43 in the East, meaning this will be the fifth-straight season it has failed to reach the playoffs. The last time that happened was in 2021, a first-round loss to Philadelphia. The last time was in 2017, a first-round win over Atlanta before coming up short in the second round against Boston.
If Young's hope is to win a championship, that probably won't happen in the very near future, although the Wizards are on the right track. He seems to be happy where he is, though, and could solidify that this summer by signing a new deal with Washington to kickstart its emergence from the past few years of rebuilding.