Wizards leaving door open on Trae Young extension, free agency

The Wizards still don’t know which path Trae Young plans to take.

While rival executives have largely assumed Young will exercise his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, that decision has not been made, according to David Aldridge, Sam Amick, and Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

The four-time All-Star is also open to discussing a contract extension with Washington, or even opting out and testing free agency this summer.

If Young were to become a free agent, the Wizards would make a “full push” to re-sign him, per the report. The organization has no interest in losing him for nothing. If he picks up the option, the plan would be to reassess.

Washington would talk with Young and his representatives, gauge his comfort level, and then determine the next move. That could include an extension, another trade, or having him play out the final year of the deal.

Fit remains a central question. The Wizards want to evaluate how several members of their young core respond alongside Young, including Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Tre Johnson. How those players develop next to Young will factor heavily into whether Washington views him as a long-term piece.

That evaluation may take time. Young has appeared in just 10 games this season due to multiple injuries, most recently a quad issue, and the Wizards are not in a hurry to bring him back. With Washington holding a top-eight protected first-round pick in 2026, there is little incentive to push for wins now.

As Aldridge, Amick, and Robbins note, it’s possible Young plays a limited number of games the rest of the season, with the Wizards more focused on his impact in 2026-27 and beyond.

That approach would mirror what the Raptors did with Brandon Ingram last year, when they acquired him at the deadline, extended him, and largely shut him down until the following season.