Trae Younger staying in Washington for too lengthy isn’t a positive factor.
The previous Hawks guard has declined his $48.97 million participant choice to develop into a free agent, in keeping with Andscape’s Marc Spears. It can’t be formally introduced till Monday.
Washington remains to be seen because the chief to signal the purpose guard whilst a number of groups are anticipated to point out curiosity, in keeping with ESPN. Younger anticipated max-contract curiosity from his suitors, Spears reported.
Younger is most notably recognized for his time with the Hawks, the crew that drafted him fifth general in 2018. The guard spent eight years with the franchise and led the Hawks throughout three playoff runs.
The furthest the crew went was the Jap Convention Finals in 2021, the place they finally misplaced to the championship-winning Milwaukee Bucks. Younger turned a Madison Sq. Backyard villians throughout that run because the Hawks wanted simply 5 video games to beat the Knicks within the first spherical.
Within the 2024-2025 season, Younger led the NBA, averaging 11.6 assists per recreation. However that season was his final full one in Atlanta. When the 2025 season got here round, the guard sprained his proper MCL within the fall and missed 22 video games.
He averaged solely 19.3 factors per recreation, his second-lowest mark aside from his rookie season. That led to the Hawks buying and selling him to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. He performed simply 5 video games for Washington due to accidents.
The deal labored out for each groups: Washington grabbed a star participant to assist in their rebuild, whereas the Hawks nonetheless made the playoffs earlier than shedding to the Knicks within the first spherical.
However now Washington has no assure of conserving Younger. The Wizards even have one other growing older star in Anthony Davis, which may result in a fast rebuild with Washington proudly owning the primary choose within the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Wizrds may land a star like BYU ahead AJ Dybansta or Kansas wing Darryn Peterson to hitch different promising children, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson.
Free company negotiations within the NBA start on June 30.
