The Washington Wizards and newly acquired point guard Trae Young plan to keep the door open for a contract extension once their trade becomes official, but neither side expects immediate negotiations, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Shelburne reported that both parties want time to assess the on-court fit. That evaluation period could last through the 2026-27 campaign because Young holds a $49 million player option for that season.
Extension scenarios
If Young declines the option and signs a new pact in the coming months, the contract would start in 2026-27 and could add up to three seasons. Should the 25-year-old pick up the option in June, he could then ink an offseason extension beginning in 2027-28 and covering as many as four additional years.
Trade kicker details
Young’s deal includes a 15% trade bonus. The bonus does not apply to his option year and cannot push his pay above the league maximum. With a current cap hit of $45,999,660 and a maximum salary of $46,394,100, Young is positioned to receive a $394,440 increase this season.
Hawks create small exception
Because Atlanta is sending out more money than it is taking back, the club will generate a $1,357,994 traded-player exception.
Atlanta still eyeing Anthony Davis
ESPN’s Shams Charania said on NBA Countdown that the Hawks remain interested in Mavericks center Anthony Davis ($54.1 million). As noted by The Athletic’s John Hollinger, CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert cannot have their salaries aggregated in another trade before the Feb. 5 deadline. Any Hawks offer would likely begin with the expiring contracts of Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7 million) and Luke Kennard ($11 million) and might also require Zaccharie Risacher ($13.2 million).
Roster ripple effects in Washington
The Wizards will open a roster spot once the deal closes. Spotrac’s Keith Smith suggested the team could eventually convert two-way forward Tristan Vukcevic to a standard contract but may wait until after the deadline to preserve flexibility.
Early grades and player reaction
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton handed both teams a B for the swap, while The Athletic’s Zach Harper gave Washington an A and Atlanta a D-plus. McCollum told NBA on Prime’s Chris Haynes he “loved” his brief stint in Washington but is eager to join the Hawks, praising both organizations for their transparency.
The trade is the first completed deal of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
