Trae Young Introduced as Wizards’ New Point Guard; Extension Talks Anticipated
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The Washington Wizards formally confirmed their acquisition of All-Star guard Trae Young on Thursday, issuing a press release shortly after the Atlanta Hawks announced the trade’s completion. The team will present Young at a press conference scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday.
“It is a rare opportunity to acquire a player of Trae’s skill, accomplishments, and age,” general manager Will Dawkins said in the statement. “Trae plays an exciting brand of basketball and brings a level of confidence and competitiveness that has set him apart in this league.”
Young, 27, tweeted that he will wear No. 3 in Washington—Elvin Hayes’ No. 11 is retired—marking his first public comments since the deal surfaced. “Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal,” he wrote. “However, the pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change. I’m walking into this next chapter ecstatic, with my head high and my eyes forward.”
Potential contract extension
League sources told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst that most NBA executives expect Young to sign an extension with Washington. Dallas Hoops Journal’s Grant Afseth reported the Wizards could target a three-year agreement worth roughly $120 million, mirroring the contract Brandon Ingram signed with Toronto after a mid-season trade last year.
According to ESPN, Washington views the move as a form of “pre-agency,” using its projected summer cap space to secure a high-profile player ahead of the offseason. Team officials hope Young’s presence can influence the Wizards’ young roster much like Chris Paul did for the Thunder in 2019 or Fred VanVleet for the Rockets in 2023.
Marketability and roster impact
Afseth noted that the franchise sees Young as a rare blend of on-court impact and marketing appeal, filling the star void left after the departures of John Wall and Bradley Beal. In a mailbag for The Athletic, Josh Robbins addressed how Young could affect second-year center Alex Sarr, alter rookie guard Bub Carrington’s role, and influence the club’s 2026 draft strategy. Robbins added that Washington surrendered so little in the trade that parting ways in a year or two would not be viewed as disastrous.
The Wizards will now turn their attention to integrating their new point guard and, potentially, finalizing a long-term deal.
Source: HoopsRumors
