NBA Notes: Wizards, Trae Young, Warriors, Stephen Curry, Suns

January 9, 2026

Wizards

Internally, the Wizards believe they’ve landed more than just a point guard in Trae Young.

According to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, Washington views Young as a “rare intersection of basketball impact and marketability,” a combination the franchise has lacked since the departures of John Wall and Bradley Beal.

The hope is that Young can anchor both the on-court product and the broader brand as the team continues its rebuild.

Around the league, there’s a strong expectation that Young eventually signs an extension with Washington. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst report that sentiment is widespread, and Afseth suggests a three-year deal worth roughly $120 million could make sense.

That structure would mirror the contract Brandon Ingram signed after a similar midseason move to the Raptors last year.

Warriors

The Warriors have hovered around .500 most of the season, but Steve Kerr’s bench may be the key to pushing them forward.

Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area notes that Golden State’s recent win over Milwaukee underscored the importance of its “X-factors.” While Stephen Curry was the lone starter with a positive net rating, all five reserves finished in the plus column.

Brandin Podziemski was a plus-19, Gui Santos posted a plus-12, De’Anthony Melton scored 22 points, and Al Horford added eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.

Draymond Green called Melton and Horford “guys that connect our lineups,” while Curry emphasized how much their recent availability has stabilized the rotation.

Suns

Dillon Brooks took a lighthearted approach to recent trade chatter.

After Suns owner Mat Ishbia publicly dismissed the idea of moving Brooks, the forward smiled when asked about it, telling Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic that he appreciated the confidence.

Brooks remains under contract through 2026–27 and will be extension-eligible this offseason, with Phoenix making it clear he’s viewed as a long-term piece.