Washington Wizards guard Trae Young plans to decline his $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season and enter unrestricted free agency, but league insider Brian Windhorst said Thursday the four-time All-Star remains heavily favored to stay in the nation’s capital.
During an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Windhorst noted that when Washington acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks in January, both sides anticipated he would forgo the option. The 27-year-old may schedule one or two free-agency meetings, Windhorst added, yet “he’s going to re-sign with the Wizards, likely on a three-year, very large contract.”
Reporting at the time of the trade suggested a three-year deal worth about $120 million as a workable framework. Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein reiterated earlier this month that those figures continue to be viewed as the probable range.
Washington could have asked Young to exercise the option and then tack on a two-year, $70 million extension, a structure that would have trimmed cap hits to roughly $35 million in 2027-28 and 2028-29. Instead, the organization appears poised to replace the option entirely with a new three-year agreement, increasing future cap charges while the rest of the roster grows more expensive.
Opting out will allow Young to hear pitches from other teams, but only a handful of clubs project to have enough room to present a max-level offer without a sign-and-trade. For now, Washington’s priority is finalizing its own deal with the former No. 5 overall pick.
Source: Hoops Rumors
