Word broke on Wednesday evening that Trae Young will decline a 2026/27 player option worth nearly $49MM in order to become a free agent, but that doesn’t mean the veteran point guard intends to leave Washington, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Appearing on Get Up on Thursday morning, Windhorst stressed that the four-time All-Star remains highly likely to re-sign with the Wizards.
“When Trae Young was traded to Washington in January, it came with the understanding that he would opt out of his contract,” Windhorst said (YouTube link). “… The expectation is he may take a meeting or two, for appearance’s sake. (But) he’s going to re-sign with the Wizards, likely on a three-year, very large contract.”
To Windhorst’s point, reporting in January, shortly after Young was sent from Atlanta to D.C., suggested that a three-year contract in the range of $120MM might makes sense for him and the Wizards. Marc Stein of The Stein Line stated earlier this month, after Washington landed the No. 1 overall pick in the draft lottery, that those are still the ballpark figures being projected for Young and the Wizards.
There was a scenario in which the Wizards, who aren’t facing a cap crunch in the short term, could’ve encouraged Young to pick up his option and then extended him at a lower number beginning in 2027/28.
For instance, tacking a two-year, $70MM extension on after his $49MM option year would result in overall earnings in the $120MM range for the next three years, with cap hits closer to $35MM in ’27/28 and ’28/29, whereas a new three-year, $120MM contract that replaces the option would carry larger cap charges in future seasons, as the rest of Washington’s roster gets more expensive. However, it appears the two sides intend to take that latter route and negotiate a brand new deal.
As Windhorst acknowledges, becoming an unrestricted free agent will allow Young to meet with rival suitors and listen to their pitches if he so chooses. But there are few teams across the NBA with the cap room necessary to make him a lucrative offer unless the Wizards accommodate a sign-and-trade. For now, it appears their focus is on re-signing the 27-year-old themselves.
