Wizards star point guard Trae Young plans to decline his $48.97MM option for the 2026/27 season and become an unrestricted free agent, Marc J. Spears of ESPN tweets.
Re-signing with Washington on a multiyear deal remains a strong possibility, as Young has been impressed by the organization since the Wizards acquired him in midseason from the Hawks, according to Spears. There has been speculation that the two sides might agree to a new three-year contract in the neighborhood of $120MM. However, Young expects multiple teams to pursue him.
By declining the option, Young is essentially taking himself off the trade market. The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reported over the weekend that multiple teams were interested in acquiring the four-time All-Star point guard, but moving him would have been simpler for the Wizards if he had opted in and was on an expiring contract.
Young’s projected max is worth $212.9MM over four years from a rival team or $287.1MM over five years from the Wizards, though it would be surprising if he received that lucrative offer after what was essentially a lost season. Young was limited to a combined 15 games with Atlanta and Washington this season.
In 2024/25, Young averaged 24.2 points and a career-high 11.6 assists per contest in 76 games.
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