TITLE: Wizards Put Trae Young Extension Talks on Hold Pending Health Review
SLUG: wizards-trae-young-extension-talks-on-hold
CONTENT:
The Washington Wizards do not plan to open contract-extension negotiations with newly acquired guard Trae Young until team officials can assess his physical condition, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Washington obtained the four-time All-Star from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to Georgia. Young is expected to travel to the nation’s capital in the coming days, where medical staff will examine lingering issues in his right knee and quad.
The 25-year-old missed time early this season with a right MCL sprain and has been sidelined for the past six games by a right quad contusion. Monitoring those injuries is the organization’s immediate priority, sources said.
Young departs Atlanta as the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (1,295) and assists (4,837). He helped the Hawks reach the playoffs three times, highlighted by a trip to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. Onyeka Okongwu is now the lone holdover from that postseason core.
Through 10 appearances this year, Young is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists while shooting 41.5 percent from the field. McCollum owns a 18.8-point average on 45.4 percent shooting, and Kispert is contributing 9.2 points per game and hitting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc in 19 contests.
The guard has roughly $95 million left on his deal, which runs through 2026-27 and includes a player option. By adding his contract, the Wizards slip about $30 million below the luxury-tax threshold, create an open roster spot, and project to have approximately $46 million in cap space this summer.
Source: Hoops Wire
