The Wizards' massive commitment to Trae Young signals a desire to build the franchise around his offensive gravity. While his contract is heavy, his playmaking ability is expected to anchor their identity for the next several years.
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Three big questions about Trae Young as a Wizard
Trae Young is in D.C. for the long haul. Your mileage may vary on the four-year max extension the Wizards handed him this summer, but it's clear that the Wizards are committed to Young and his style. That opens a range of questions around how (and whether) he molds his game to mesh with the Wizards' young core. Here are some big ones I'll be keeping an eye on. Young's very brief 10-game stint with the Hawks last year was a big step back. He shot the ball poorly, played especially lackadaisical defense, and struggled to drive winning. The Hawks took off when he left. That is, to be fair, a 10-game sample, and in his even more brief Wizards cameo later in the year, he shot the ball well. But given their long-term commitment, the Wizards have to hope that Young can reach a gear of athleticism and quickness that we've seen from him in the past. His quick-twitch, shifty first step has helped him separate from elite defenders and poke holes in defenses. Much of his film from last year shows a player who lacked that same agility. The Wizards need him to find it again. The Wizards profile as a different style of team than past Trae Young operations. His Hawks teams were stocked with shooters and off-ball players who fit inside of Young's heavy pick-and-roll game. Washington, with AJ Dybantsa in the starting lineup, is oriented a bit differently.
October 12, 2026Yahoo Sports
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