Four-time NBA All-Star, Washington Wizards’ Trae Young will decline the player option on his $48.97 million deal in 2026-27 and opt-out of his contract to test his value in the free-agent market, Yankee Scores reports.
As per Marc Spears’ sources Washington remains the front-runner to retain Young, despite other clubs also being interested in acquiring him.
Last year, Trae Young aimed to prove himself worthy of signing a max deal of four years and $229 million worth extension as Atlanta Hawks’ franchise cornerstone.
However, Young suffered a right MCL injury in the fifth game of the season in late October and came back in mid-December.
During Young’s absence, the Hawks’ management noticed how impressive Jalen Johnson and other youngsters had performed.
As a result, the Hawks’ organization decided to swap Young in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to Washington Wizards.
The Wizards also signed big man Anthony Davis last season, hoping that Young and Davis can be an All-Star two-man duo that can lift the franchise to compete for a playoff spot next season, but reverse was the case.
The young Wizards, who had already traded for Anthony Davis last offseason, acquired Young in early January to quarterback their young core.
Young dished out 9.8 assists per game across his first eight years in the league and is expected to fit perfectly in Washington.
The club claims that Young and Davis will help a budding core of Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Bub Carrington and the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft progress even further after three consecutive campaigns of 64+ losses.
