Trae Young is staying in Washington. The four-time All-Star has agreed to a new four-year contract worth approximately $212 million with the Wizards, including a player option in the final season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Young declined his $49 million player option on Monday in favor of a longer commitment that keeps him in Washington through the prime years of his career. The new deal reportedly falls below the maximum Washington could have offered but matches the maximum contract Young would have been eligible to receive elsewhere.
The move solidifies Young’s commitment to a franchise he specifically targeted earlier this year. Sources told ESPN that Young only wanted to be traded to Washington when discussions with Atlanta intensified in January.
Washington views Young as the lead playmaker for one of the NBA’s youngest rosters, featuring Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Bub Carrington.
The organization also believes Young and Anthony Davis can become one of the league’s most productive veteran pairings.
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins spoke about Young’s impact during the NBA Draft Lottery in May.
“The few games that Trae was able to play, you just saw the gravity that he has and he draws and how he’ll be able to free up our guys,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins told ESPN at the NBA draft lottery in May. “But also Anthony Davis was coming off of being on two teams in two years and Trae Young, the way he left Atlanta — you’re finding guys that want to be in D.C., want to compete together and I think have some chips on their shoulders. Those are the horses we want to put our bets on.”
Young appeared in just 15 games between Atlanta and Washington, averaging 17.9 points and 8.0 assists. Despite the limited action, the Wizards saw enough to make him the centerpiece of their future.
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