Trae Young, Come on DOWN

[doclinkin]

Pretty nifty return to swap Beal for Trae Young. Kyshawn. AJJ. Whitmore. 2 or more first rounders. A bunch of 2nds. And potential pick swaps.

[Dat2U]

It’s a really dumb move and I don’t understand it. Why not just pursue Trae Young in the off-season?

The only way it makes sense is if Trae has already agreed to sit out 30 or so games this season due to a phantom injury. I cannot believe the Wizards will be dumb enough to squander their high lotto pick in this draft.

Because he **** blows and we need to lose basketball games.

I wish we could have gotten a late pick but we replaced 2 neutral players for one negative player when we need to lose games.

If he sucks so bad, then why acquire him and be stuck with his $49M contract? Why not just buy out CJ and tank while developing Bub and Trey Johnson?

First off, I don't hate the trade but I definitely don't love it. I'll still give it a B- because they still aquired a 1st option scorer for pennies on the dollar using cap room they could afford to use. It's not any higher because they didn't get an additional asset for taking on the salary. I'll positively assume they'll either sit Trae the rest of the season or he'll play in only a handful of games to get some chemistry with the young guys before shutting it down. I think they'll still do what they need to in order to preserve the tank.

Trae is the platinum version of Jordan Poole. While Jordan flashes and has a good scoring/playmaking game every blue moon, Trae does his thug thizzle every night. He can still absolutely take over games, is probably the best pure passer currently in basketball and still can get into the paint at will. The shot selection will always be spotty but I do think there is an overreaction to this as he's still a top 20 offensive player in the league when healthy. The issue is truly defensively. He's stopped trying the last few years in Atlanta for whatever reason and to be honest, its not much different from watching CJ defend this year - i.e. bottom 10% in the entire league - he's always been bad but at least in his early years he could show some fight and at least be a pest. That's regressed into consistent low effort vibes.

This move is about next year. Tanking is over and I assume Trae will be given the keys to lead a young team into the playoffs. Maybe a short & modest extension (2 yrs - 80-90 mil?) is coming to keep him as a potential trade asset beyond next trade deadline.

I don't see it as a long term move but a bridge to respectability. They view Trae as a cheap rehab opportunity he's a guy the front office knows very well. I'm sure they are confident that he can make life easier offensively for Sarr, Ky, Tre et all.

It will be interesting to see if this revitalizes him. I think there's a chance it could. I just hope they stick to the plan and be willing to move him when the time is right.

[9 and 20]

I'll buy in, especially if he's sitting most of the rest of the season and we're not extending him. When he's playing, he'll make life way easier for all of the young guys - on offense. No idea what the defense will look like - hopefully not too horrible.

We're getting a high lotto pick this year. Winger and Dawkins were locking it in with Silver yesterday before finally pulling the trigger on the trade. Trae with Sarr, George, Tre plus one of the really good forwards in this year's draft could be something. Plus Bilal, Bub, Champagnie, Whitmore, and even Watkins. That could be a really fun team. It's been a minute since we've had a fun team.

[Tyrone Messby]

If he’s sitting this year and they’re committed to the tank then yeah I can deal with it. Ideally AJ or Peterson with this group and Trae could be pretty fun next year and a lock for the playoffs but for the love of God do not extend Trae unless it’s a significant reduction in salary. We may be the worst franchise in the league of the last 30 years but we may be the best franchise in the league at rehabilitating players Even Boozer or Wilson with this squad will be a ton of fun to watch next season.

So long CJ, thanks for your professionalism.

Kispert? Meh , kick rocks.

[Tyrone Messby]

I'll buy in, especially if he's sitting most of the rest of the season and we're not extending him. When he's playing, he'll make life way easier for all of the young guys - on offense. No idea what the defense will look like - hopefully not too horrible.

We're getting a high lotto pick this year. Winger and Dawkins were locking it in with Silver yesterday before finally pulling the trigger on the trade. Trae with Sarr, George, Tre plus one of the really good forwards in this year's draft could be something. Plus Bilal, Bub, Champagnie, Whitmore, and even Watkins. That could be a really fun team. It's been a minute since we've had a fun team.

We’re a slightly fun team right now, it’s awesome seeing a tank plan finally start to come to fruition. It’s only something we’ve been begging for since we shipped Wall out.

[queridiculo]

As if I need more reasons not to watch this team...

I have not looked into the details of this deal, but I absolutely hate hate hate everything about Trae Young, not a chance in hell I will bother watching him play as long as he is on this squad.

[Hibachi_0]

So we basically stretched Coreys entire contract in to the final year of traes deal. Which is smart when we have multiple players that are playing better than Corey and are more adorable and younger and do the same thing.

Love this take.

what would have we done with that much cap space? Overpaying some mediocre players just because we need to use that cap space? Better cut that in half and have some leverage when negotiating with FAs in the sense that we don't NEED to pay them.

[jangles86]

If we manage to hit in this draft and we get Dybantsa or Boozer then it will feel a lot more positive.

Young
Johnson/Bub
George/Bilal
Boozer
Sarr

Add free agent $$$ to pick up some depth and vets and you can look forward to something.

[lastemp3ror]

I think two things need to happen for this trade to be great for us.

#1: Trae barely plays this year, and we keep our top 8 protected pick.
#2: Next season, Trae is healthy, and he plays fairly well, or back to form, and we trade him at the next deadline for a first-round pick.

If those two things happen, which is probably a stretch, I then see the vision with this trade.

Conversely, if one or both of the following things happen, then this trade will be horrendous.

#1: We lose our top 8 protected pick because Trae plays and we win games.
#2: We re-sign Trae.

[Zonkerbl]

Good for CJ, he approached this the right way, stayed professional, played hard, showed he could fit into the defensive style the team wanted to play, earned an opportunity to play for a contending team. Let's hope Trae brings that same professional mindset next season after rehabbing this season. Maybe he gets to play the last month or so to earn an extension by showing he's 100% physically and mentally prepared to commit to his role on defense.

[tontoz]

Bottom line is that we are getting screwed by the salary floor. We will be a salary dumping ground until the young guys get paid.

[closg00]

My view of the trade is that it cleans up two Dawkins mistakes while costing us nothing. The Deni trade was a historical blunder which resulted in Bub being given the opportunity to become our Point Guard of the future. It didn’t work, and it was hurting the development of our draft picks. Now we have a former All-Star at PG that we can check out (I hope we don’t extend him).

The trade also gets us out of another Dawkins mistake which was extending Corey. Now he is off the books.

I am not happy with how we helped ATL. They needed this trade more than we did. They win the trade by not having to give up any assets, but we also benefited our bottom line. We have cap space. Khris is coming off the books, so the FO will have an opportunity to elevate the group a little more in the offseason.

If Trae is healthy and we can get the chemistry we had with CJ, I expect us to at least make the playoffs next season, which will be great for the youth.

[nate33]

I'll buy in, especially if he's sitting most of the rest of the season and we're not extending him. When he's playing, he'll make life way easier for all of the young guys - on offense. No idea what the defense will look like - hopefully not too horrible.

We're getting a high lotto pick this year. Winger and Dawkins were locking it in with Silver yesterday before finally pulling the trigger on the trade. Trae with Sarr, George, Tre plus one of the really good forwards in this year's draft could be something. Plus Bilal, Bub, Champagnie, Whitmore, and even Watkins. That could be a really fun team. It's been a minute since we've had a fun team.

Atlanta is not LA. Why would Silver want to incentivize us to help Atlanta?

[Rafael122]

I have a few thoughts, and its kind of disorganized here but:

Overall, I give this trade a B. It would have been B+/A- territory if we had gotten a pick or even swapped our 30 for like the 18th pick or whatever, but it is what it is. There's been scuttlebutt that the Hawks were asking for a 1st.

We keep bringing up cap room, his player option, etc. I ask you this, who were going to overpay to come here? I would rather have Young at $49 million than pay Coby White and Grimes $25 million each to come here. Per Keith Smith, we still have about $45 million in cap room. We could get anyone still. Austin Reaves? Sure. Hartenstein? Go for it. We could trade for a guy on a bad contract and pick up additional assets. You're not getting a better player in free agency than Young. There might be 1 or 2 guys that hit free agency who could be, but overall, I'd take my chances with Trae. Point being, the salary is huge for Young, but we still maintain flexibility to do whatever they want to do.

I'll leave with this: if you asked yourself 2 years ago or whenever Brad was traded that you will eventually trade him and get Trae Young, 4 pick swaps and 6 second round picks, what would your reaction be?

[AFM]

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[JAR69]

I thought I would hate this less in the morning. I don't.

As a matter of asset management, it's fine. We bought low on an allstar. But an allstar that literally no one else wanted at his price. We essentially consolidated Corey's last 2-3 years into next season for Trae. (I don't know if they would have picked up his option.) The main cost is cap room for the offseason that might have been used to acquire draft picks. But that is speculation. Overall, neutral to OK.

But getting Trae brings serious risks. I still don't get how this works with the tank. People think we are going to shut him down for most of the season. But then how do we determine whether he works with youth and if he should get an extension? And Trae wants an extension, so he has an interest in playing. We are already on the edge or risking losing our pick. It is insanity to do anything to increase that risk.

I'm also worried about how this impacts player development. Sure, having Trae means more open shots for Tre, easier PNR baskets for Sarr, etc. But does that help them develop? It pads their stats, but I want them to learn how to shoot with someone in their face, hit a contested shot around the basket, develop counter-moves. That is what makes them better long-term. I also want the kids taking the last shot, doing things in pressure time. I expect everyone will defer to our allstar at the end of games. Development is hard, and achieved in part through trying, failing, improving, and trying again. Positive team results can help, and too much losing carries risk. But the point is individual development.

And how does acquiring Trae impact team chemistry and accountability? Just 48 hours ago we were talking about how the post-Nets loss team meeting and Keefe benching Cam for loafing on defense turned into chemistry and accountability. It would be great if Trae puts in great effort on defense going forward. But what if he doesn't? Benching Cam Whitmore is one thing. Is Keefe going to be able to hold Trae accountabie? If not, that sends a terrible message to the kids.

Perhaps my biggest worry is about the front office. This move seems to be, at least in part, about Travis Schlenk. Schlenk acquired Trae at the draft, trading Luka for him. That move has been rightfully panned. To rehabilitate his own reputation, Schelnk hopes Trae to turn into the superstar he thinks Trae still can be (he can't). Maybe that isn't what this is about. But if it is, it gives me deep concerns about the front office. I thought Winger and Dawkins wanted to do things the OKC way. They mostly have. This move seems to run counter to that on many levels. I don't get it.

[prime1time]

I thought I would hate this less in the morning. I don't.

As a matter of asset management, it's fine. We bought low on an allstar. But an allstar that literally no one else wanted at his price. We essentially consolidated Corey's last 2-3 years into next season for Trae. (I don't know if they would have picked up his option.) The main cost is cap room for the offseason that might have been used to acquire draft picks. But that is speculation. Overall, neutral to OK.

But getting Trae brings serious risks. I still don't get how this works with the tank. People think we are going to shut him down for most of the season. But then how do we determine whether he works with youth and if he should get an extension? And Trae wants an extension, so he has an interest in playing. We are already on the edge or risking losing our pick. It is insanity to do anything to increase that risk.

I'm also worried about how this impacts player development. Sure, having Trae means more open shots for Tre, easier PNR baskets for Sarr, etc. But does that help them develop? It pads their stats, but I want them to learn how to shoot with someone in their face, hit a contested shot around the basket, develop counter-moves. That is what makes them better long-term. I also want the kids taking the last shot, doing things in pressure time. I expect everyone will defer to our allstar at the end of games. Development is hard, and achieved in part through trying, failing, improving, and trying again. Positive team results can help, and too much losing carries risk. But the point is individual development.

And how does acquiring Trae impact team chemistry and accountability? Just 48 hours ago we were talking about how the post-Nets loss team meeting and Keefe benching Cam for loafing on defense turned into chemistry and accountability. It would be great if Trae puts in great effort on defense going forward. But what if he doesn't? Benching Cam Whitmore is one thing. Is Keefe going to be able to hold Trae accountabie? If not, that sends a terrible message to the kids.

Perhaps my biggest worry is about the front office. This move seems to be, at least in part, about Travis Schlenk. Schlenk acquired Trae at the draft, trading Luka for him. That move has been rightfully panned. To rehabilitate his own reputation, Schelnk hopes Trae to turn into the superstar he thinks Trae still can be (he can't). Maybe that isn't what this is about. But if it is, it gives me deep concerns about the front office. I thought Winger and Dawkins wanted to do things the OKC way. They mostly have. This move seems to run counter to that on many levels. I don't get it.

This is 2026, Wiz have already leaked that Trae Young is facing injuries. They will keep him on the bench for an extended period of time and then he would be load managed. Hating on the trade because he would hurt the tank is not a realistic take. Especially when we were winning games and hurting the tank with CJ.

As for your other point about hurting the development of the other players, I would imagine that not having a pg on the roster would do much more to hurt their development. I've seen Wizards teams where the blind leads the blind. Jordan Crawford, Andray Blatche, Nick Young etc. It doesn't work. Trae Young's presence will make offense easier for everyone else to be successful. Thus building confidence and setting them on a productive future path.

To be honest, your entire post gives the impression of a person who doesn't like the deal and thus comes up with reasons not to like the deal. But you're kind of grasping at straws. Aspects of the deal that are more akin to being afraid of shadows than actual problems. Trae's going to hurt team chemistry and accountability. What's the basis for this? Trae's going to set a bad image for defense. Do we say the same for Jokic and Luka and Steph and any other top 10 offensive initiator?

You don't like the trade, but doesn't it make more sense to actually wait to see how the trade will turn out? If we're going to come up with reasons why the trade could go spectacularly wrong, I could list a hundred reasons. But if all these things do come to fruition then we just move on from him.

[badinage]

Read on Twitter

The Beal haul isn’t looking that good anymore. That 2026 pick swap won’t amount to anything. We have sloppy seconds on the 2028 pick swap, so that’s likely nothing too. The only one that might come into play is the 2030 picks swap.

It didn’t look good to begin with.

Those pick swaps were groping reaches in the dark.

Getting Beal off the books: an accomplishment. But not a great trade. Porzingis: a terrible trade, and letting him get to Boston — oof. Deni: right now, it’s getting close to the Webber deal, as a fail of massive proportion that sets the franchise back years.

The Marcus Smart trade was shrewd, and let’s hope this one is too. We could use some good news.

[payitforward]

...I thought Winger and Dawkins wanted to do things the OKC way. They mostly have. This move seems to run counter to that on many levels. I don't get it.

That is my reaction as well to a trade that seems to want to leapfrog the tank.

As far as the terms of the trade go, well... given that we were speculating whether we'd have to buy out CJ, it's fair to say that the deal comes down to Kispert for Young. I.e. we didn't give much for Trae.

That said, like everyone here, I wish we'd managed to come away with some advantage in the coming draft. I'm sure we tried.

What I wonder is why Will wanted to do this trade at all. Where is the long-term benefit for a franchise that should certainly be focused on the long term?

[Rafael122]

...I thought Winger and Dawkins wanted to do things the OKC way. They mostly have. This move seems to run counter to that on many levels. I don't get it.

That is my reaction as well to a trade that seems to want to leapfrog the tank.

As far as the terms of the trade go, well... given that we were speculating whether we'd have to buy out CJ, it's fair to say that the deal comes down to Kispert for Young. I.e. we didn't give much for Trae.

That said, like everyone here, I wish we'd managed to come away with some advantage in the coming draft. I'm sure we tried.

What I wonder is why Will wanted to do this trade at all. Where is the long-term benefit for a franchise that should certainly be focused on the long term?

This will be Will's 4th offseason with the team. I think it's a move for next year because at some point, the rebuild will have to end. You're going into '26-'27 with Young, hopefully a top 4 guy, an improving roster and $45 million in cap room. That doesn't scream "we're gonna tank another year!" That screams pushing for a play in spot/potential playoff contention.