Trae Young to Test Free Agency, Wizards Hopeful

Trae Young is reportedly planning to test the free agency market after half a season with the Washington Wizards. Spears of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the guard intends to decline his $49 million player option for the upcoming season. Despite this, the Wizards are considered the "front-runner" to sign him, though Young anticipates multiple teams will offer him a maximum contract.

Young, who played on a $46.4 million cap hit last season, was acquired by the Wizards on January 7 in a trade that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks. He had been the face of Atlanta's franchise for eight seasons. Injuries, including a sprained right MCL, significantly limited his participation in the 2025-26 season before the trade, and his production had seen a dip to 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game.

Following the trade, Young averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists in five games for Washington before being sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a quad injury. The Wizards are aiming to build a competitive team, with Anthony Davis in a veteran role, alongside promising young players like Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, and the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft. The decision on whether Young fits long-term could impact the franchise's pursuit of him in free agency, though mutual interest appears to exist.