The most important commerce of the 2025-26 NBA season (to this point) noticed the Atlanta Hawks lastly unload four-time All-Star guard Trae Younger to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Nonetheless, Wizards followers questioning what the crew will appear like with Younger on the ground must wait a while for his debut within the nation’s capital. Younger, who has solely performed in 10 video games this season resulting from MCL and quad accidents, will stay out till after the All-Star break when he’s re-evaluated once more, per ESPN.
The Wizards being cautious with Younger’s harm comes as little shock. Washington is 10-28 this season and, organizationally, is much extra centered on retaining their top-8 protected choose within the much-anticipated 2026 NBA Draft and touchdown one of many prime prospects so as to add to the roster. Younger, in the meantime, has a key choice to make this summer time as he has a $49 million participant possibility for the 2026-27 season.
Trae Younger contract: Wizards mulling extension after commerce, so what sort of deal is sensible?
James Herbert
He is hopeful to get an extension in Washington, however at this level it appears extra possible he’ll choose up the choice and play out subsequent season with the Wizards in hopes of elevating his worth once more forward of a free agent summer time. Whereas Younger, like several participant, desires to be on the ground, he will even be taking an extended view this season and understands getting wholesome and having the ability to play at his full capability is a very powerful factor to his long-term future as properly.
With each events aligned (albeit for various causes) on remaining cautious and making an attempt to get him again at 100% earlier than getting him again on the courtroom, Younger will miss no less than one other month and sure extra. The important thing phrase in ESPN’s report is “re-evaluated” which generally means a participant lacking much more time, even when only for a ramp-up interval in the event that they’re medically cleared within the re-evaluation.
Younger, in simply 10 video games this season, is averaging 19.3 factors, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds whereas taking pictures 41.5% from the sphere and 30.5% on 3-pointers.
