Trae Young, Come on DOWN

[TGW]

You know I love this board and have learned a lot from you all, but sometimes this board leans too hard into contrarianism and the "ACTUALLY we know better" mentality. I mean, someone actually said that people in the Wiz FO need to be FIRED for trading Corey Kispert for Trae Young. That might be the funniest thing ever written on realGM.

They should be fired for trading someone, but it ain't Kispert. Can't remember his name, but I think there were pillows made with his face on them lol.

On a side note, this morning feels like the day after that guy whose name I can't remember got traded. People were posting highlight reels of Malcolm Brogdon. Gizzards fans are the ultimate optimists.

[dobrojim]

...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?

Are you saying that the Wizards will forfeit their draft pick to the Knicks?

As for your other point, I think the reality is that Wizards management wanted Trae Young in DC. At the very least they want to see how it looks. So sending out draft pick compensation - especially the Pelicans pick - was always fantasy. Picks are simply too valuable these days.

Wiz mgmt needed a celebrity player for attendance.
Trae is who they were able to get.

As just about everybody has said, the success/failure
of the trade will be decided by whether our pick
conveys to the Nix or not.

[AFM]

You know I love this board and have learned a lot from you all, but sometimes this board leans too hard into contrarianism and the "ACTUALLY we know better" mentality. I mean, someone actually said that people in the Wiz FO need to be FIRED for trading Corey Kispert for Trae Young. That might be the funniest thing ever written on realGM.

They should be fired for trading someone, but it ain't Kispert. Can't remember his name, but I think there were pillows made with his face on them lol.

On a side note, this morning feels like the day after that guy whose name I can't remember got traded. People were posting highlight reels of Malcolm Brogdon. Gizzards fans are the ultimate optimists.

lol fair enough if you're hung up on the deni trade, that's reasonable, but this trade isn't getting anyone fired, maybe in ATL.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Trae sees the long game with the Wizards. Washington is rapidly improving. They started 5-23. They have been 5-3 since WHILE RESTING THEIR BEST. George, Sarr, and Tre Johnson will be future stars.

WAS can go from worst to first drafting Boozer/Wilson and adding Hartenstein.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

When I first heard the Trae Young trade rumors, my initial reaction was "Nooooo!!!"...


Now that it's done...

I'm a bit torn on the deal. Trae is not the type of player I like in that he's small, ball dominating, no D.

I was expecting some sort of asset coming back to us with Trae... The Cleveland pick, or Asa Newell, or a future pick. So that's disappointing.

On the other hand, we didn't give up much. We didn't lose Champagnie, the best value in the NBA. None of our stockpile of upside youth (Riley, Bub, AJ Johnson, etc). No draft picks going out.

At the start of this season, McCollum was considered a buyout candidate. We would've dealt Kispert for a ham sandwich. Neither player had much trade value. Both of them (like Trae) are offensive no D players.

Trae Young is a 4X All-Star who has 7 more years until he's the age of McCollum.. He's a legit PG with starting playoff experience who can come in and run this offense and organize this inexperienced roster.

Unless we extend him he's expiring after next season , no long-term risk.

Moving out McCollum & Kispert opens more PT for the likes of Tre Johnson, Will Riley, AJ Johnson, Jamir Watkins.

We retained all of our draft picks... We have 5 picks in this draft and 5 picks in next years draft.

If we draft a Boozer, Dybantsa, or Caleb Wilson... add that player in with Young, Coulibaly, Kyshawn, Sarr in a run and gun up tempo athletic unit, pushing pace, getting stocks that lead to fast breaks. Off the bench with Bub, Tre, Champagnie, Riley... They can be exciting to watch, start winning more, and become an attractive destination other players will be interested in possibly coming here.


In the end, all said and done, I'd say the Wizards come out ahead in the move overall. It brings some national attention to the Wizards. Adding a player like Trae Young, and then a top draft pick, will stir up some hype for what has been a completely irrelevant franchise. It could become a bit of a spring board and set us up to become competitive next season and progress in a positive direction moving forward.

I haven't posted here in a long time (formerly dandridge 10), but this fully summarizes my take on the trade.

I'm not a Trae Young fan, but we essentially swapped two non-defensive redundant guys with one non-defensive guy who fills a position of need, without sacrificing young players or draft picks or financial flexibility. Doesn't hurt our tank because Young is currently dealing with injuries that give us a reason to sit him and be patient. But, we can play him some to kick the tires and see if a legitimate PG in his prime on this team can improve the offensive play of our team and help our youngsters. If it doesn't work out, no biggie because we are not locked in long term. A younger former All Star player like Trae on an expiring contract is likely to net more than an old former All Start McCollum on a expiring contract if we later want to try to trade for draft capital. If it works out, you a PG in his prime that can benefit our younger guys until we have a better option. To me, it is a low risk, potentially high reward move.

Of course, everyone was hoping to get a young prospect or draft pick for Young. But, I think Winger and Dawkins are smart enough guys to know what the trade value was and what they were going to get. Of course, Winger and Dawkins have not been perfect (Deni trade) but no one is. Overall, they seem like very patient and competent GMs that are taking a long road view of this team, unlike our previous management. Its really the only reason I am still interested in this team.

I'd give the trade a B.

Read on Twitter

[TGW]

You know I love this board and have learned a lot from you all, but sometimes this board leans too hard into contrarianism and the "ACTUALLY we know better" mentality. I mean, someone actually said that people in the Wiz FO need to be FIRED for trading Corey Kispert for Trae Young. That might be the funniest thing ever written on realGM.

They should be fired for trading someone, but it ain't Kispert. Can't remember his name, but I think there were pillows made with his face on them lol.

On a side note, this morning feels like the day after that guy whose name I can't remember got traded. People were posting highlight reels of Malcolm Brogdon. Gizzards fans are the ultimate optimists.

lol fair enough if you're hung up on the deni trade, that's reasonable, but this trade isn't getting anyone fired, maybe in ATL.

No one in ATL is getting fired, boss. They just cleared their books of an unwanted overpaid bum for free. I'm sure their owner is absolutely ecstatic that they get to put that money to use somewhere else, especially considering that they're a small market team.

Still trying to understand what kind of roster this is. Clearly, defense is not a priority for Will Dawkins and Schlenk. I have a feeling Turd is starting to slowly add his 2 cents in those personnel meetings. His fingerprints are on this trade.

[closg00]

Kevin Broom gives the trade a C+, the lowest grade I have seen.

[prime1time]

Kevin Broom gives the trade a C+, the lowest grade I have seen.

Being honest how can you grade a trade one day after it's done lol.

[Frichuela]

I must be high on copium or whatever this green oregano PIF gave me for the holidays because this seems like an unbelievable trade, especially when you step back and zoom out a bit and think about what Bradley Beal is doing now, and our cap space, and our upcoming picks, and the cost of this trade (nothing), and how all the pieces fit together.

Yes, AFM I agree. And on top of that, (empty calories and matador D) Kispert is gone

Let's not forget that we got rid of 2.5 years of guaranteed money for him. Importantly, Kispert was stealing developmental minutes from our young wings.

[prime1time]

The real question surrounding Trae is whether or not there are any circumstances where Washington would extend him. It's obvious all the ways and reasons why Trae Young has fallen out of favor. But is there a circumstance where for less money the Wizards could see enough positives from him to extend him. Trae is just such a defensive liability that it's tough for me to see how that would work out. But as is always the case you have to see how things play out on the floor.

[AFM]

Kevin Broom gives the trade a C+, the lowest grade I have seen.

Being honest how can you grade a trade one day after it's done lol.

Kevin admits to not watching any basketball, and his track record frankly has been absolutely terrible recently.

[Menace2Sobriety]

When I first heard the Trae Young trade rumors, my initial reaction was "Nooooo!!!"...


Now that it's done...

I'm a bit torn on the deal. Trae is not the type of player I like in that he's small, ball dominating, no D.

I was expecting some sort of asset coming back to us with Trae... The Cleveland pick, or Asa Newell, or a future pick. So that's disappointing.

On the other hand, we didn't give up much. We didn't lose Champagnie, the best value in the NBA. None of our stockpile of upside youth (Riley, Bub, AJ Johnson, etc). No draft picks going out.

At the start of this season, McCollum was considered a buyout candidate. We would've dealt Kispert for a ham sandwich. Neither player had much trade value. Both of them (like Trae) are offensive no D players.

Trae Young is a 4X All-Star who has 7 more years until he's the age of McCollum.. He's a legit PG with starting playoff experience who can come in and run this offense and organize this inexperienced roster.

Unless we extend him he's expiring after next season , no long-term risk.

Moving out McCollum & Kispert opens more PT for the likes of Tre Johnson, Will Riley, AJ Johnson, Jamir Watkins.

We retained all of our draft picks... We have 5 picks in this draft and 5 picks in next years draft.

If we draft a Boozer, Dybantsa, or Caleb Wilson... add that player in with Young, Coulibaly, Kyshawn, Sarr in a run and gun up tempo athletic unit, pushing pace, getting stocks that lead to fast breaks. Off the bench with Bub, Tre, Champagnie, Riley... They can be exciting to watch, start winning more, and become an attractive destination other players will be interested in possibly coming here.


In the end, all said and done, I'd say the Wizards come out ahead in the move overall. It brings some national attention to the Wizards. Adding a player like Trae Young, and then a top draft pick, will stir up some hype for what has been a completely irrelevant franchise. It could become a bit of a spring board and set us up to become competitive next season and progress in a positive direction moving forward.

I haven't posted here in a long time (formerly dandridge 10), but this fully summarizes my take on the trade.

I'm not a Trae Young fan, but we essentially swapped two non-defensive redundant guys with one non-defensive guy who fills a position of need, without sacrificing young players or draft picks or financial flexibility. Doesn't hurt our tank because Young is currently dealing with injuries that give us a reason to sit him and be patient. But, we can play him some to kick the tires and see if a legitimate PG in his prime on this team can improve the offensive play of our team and help our youngsters. If it doesn't work out, no biggie because we are not locked in long term. A younger former All Star player like Trae on an expiring contract is likely to net more than an old former All Start McCollum on a expiring contract if we later want to try to trade for draft capital. If it works out, you a PG in his prime that can benefit our younger guys until we have a better option. To me, it is a low risk, potentially high reward move.

Of course, everyone was hoping to get a young prospect or draft pick for Young. But, I think Winger and Dawkins are smart enough guys to know what the trade value was and what they were going to get. Of course, Winger and Dawkins have not been perfect (Deni trade) but no one is. Overall, they seem like very patient and competent GMs that are taking a long road view of this team, unlike our previous management. Its really the only reason I am still interested in this team.

I'd give the trade a B.

Read on Twitter

…and the GM that made that trade now works for the Wizards and just traded for Trae.

Ultimately, we didn’t give up assets for a former all-star, and the success will be measured on maintaining our pick, and whether and for how much Trae is extended.

That Schlenk is enamored by Trae gives me great pause moving forward.

[Frichuela]

Kevin Broom gives the trade a C+, the lowest grade I have seen.

Zach Harper at the Athletic gives us an A rating and a D+ to the Hawks...

[Dark Faze]

Can't really say much at this point without seeing how the rest of the season shakes out. Short term I'm hopeful that we'll lose quite a few games until Trae enters the lineup again at a minimum.

[closg00]

Kevin Broom gives the trade a C+, the lowest grade I have seen.

Zach Harper at the Athletic gives us an A rating and a D+ to the Hawks...

Interesting, gotta read his take

[AFM]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6952755/2026/01/07/trae-young-trade-grades-hawks-wizards-nba/?source=athletic_user_shared_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta

Wizards acquire Trae Young
What does this Wizards team look like with Young at point guard? The Wizards are heavily in rebuilding mode and did a brilliant job this past year of clearing the books beyond 2026 so they could be major players in deals. Some of that was to acquire bad contracts that would require picks attached to them for Washington to foot the bill. That’s going to be an incredible currency in the second-apron era.

Yet, some of it was to capitalize on a situation in which a star player becomes available, and they don’t have to wonder whether they can afford this guy moving forward. That’s where Young comes into the picture.

The trade price for Young was unspeakably low. Jrue Holiday was traded for the rights to the Milwaukee Bucks’ recent first-round pick, two extra firsts and two pick swaps. Donovan Mitchell went for three firsts and two pick swaps, along with Lauri Markkanen. Neither of those guys is 13th in all-time scoring average or third in all-time assist average.

Young is. He’s 27 years old and in his prime, and all it took was McCollum and Kispert? That’s shocking, even if you’re not sold on Young as a guy who can lead your franchise.

For the Wizards, it’s pretty simple. They need a lead guard to organize this young core. The Wizards haven’t had a top-15 offense since 2018-19. They haven’t had a top-10 offense since the 2016-17 season, when they were eighth in the NBA. They were last in the league in offensive rating a year ago, and this team — as spirited as it is — is 27th.

The Wizards are in the bottom 10 in assist percentage, effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage. We’ve seen the Wizards play better defense the past couple of weeks, but their offense really can’t get going.

Young should be able to fix that problem — or at least improve it. Even though things aren’t going well for the Hawks with Young in the lineup, their offense is leagues better with him on the floor. It’s nearly seven points per 100 possessions better when he plays. The offense has only finished outside the top 15 once in the previous five seasons, and it was in the top 10 three times. Back in the 2021-22 season, Young orchestrated the Hawks to the second-best offense in the league.

By getting the ball from Young, the Wizards’ youth development can benefit greatly and in ways their current roster didn’t allow. Alex Sarr has taken a massive step forward in his second season, and you’d be shocked how difficult it is for the Wizards to throw him an entry pass. Or maybe you wouldn’t if you watched a quarter.

Rookie Tre Johnson can space the floor and is a perfect shooter to set up. Guys like Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington could benefit greatly from having the offense create their looks, rather than always having to do it themselves.

That’s all the good stuff. The bad stuff is that Young is a mediocre shooter, despite a Damian Lillard and Steph Curry-esque shot profile. He’s shot league average or better three times in his seven and a half seasons. In the last three and a half seasons, Young has shot 43.0 percent or worse from the field. He takes terrible shots, and he misses many of them.

Young also turns the ball over as much as anybody, owning one of the highest turnover rates in NBA history. You’re getting playmaking, but you’re also getting almost 75 percent of his turnovers coming from passes. Not to mention, Young is one of the league’s worst point-of-attack defenders.

For now, the defense doesn’t have to matter. The Wizards are looking to develop their young core on offense and maybe even sell some tickets and jerseys. Washington gave up very little for him and didn’t give up any draft compensation. And Young doesn’t present a long-term money issue. He has a player option just under $50 million next season.

The Wizards don’t have any big extensions looming, so even if they gave Young a two- or three-year deal this summer, they’ll be in great shape financially. This might be the perfect rental with a chance at long-term success. And if it doesn’t work out, they can cut the bait and maintain business as usual in their development process.

Grade: A

[dobrojim]

Kevin Broom gives the trade a C+, the lowest grade I have seen.

Being honest how can you grade a trade one day after it's done lol.

You have a point. That said, none of the players
involved are unknown entities

[payitforward]

The real question surrounding Trae is whether or not there are any circumstances where Washington would extend him....

Bingo.

[pcbothwel]

Wasnt a fan of this trade for 2 primary reasons. 1) Didnt want to give up any picks. 2) Didnt want to jeopardize our pick.
However, we didnt trade any real assets and Im hearing from multiple places that we will be sitting him for a good portion of the season.
If so, then this could be a really sneaky good move for 2 reasons.
1) Trae is probably the best pure live dribble passer in the entire league. We need to find out who's for real out of our young guys, and Trae can get these guys looks.
2) I know I have banged this drum before, but my eyes have been on the 2027 FA class since last year. This allows us to put a young, playable/exciting team out there in 26/27 in anticipation of this class. Giannis, Jokic, Mitchell, etc. are all possibilities, along with a resigned Trae.

Lets see how this plays out. Winger is renowned as a big picture guy... and he clearly saw what CJ and Kispert were putting out there and if Trae Young playing half those games results in less wins, then it could be one of the savviest move we've ever seen in DC.

[payitforward]

I've now read enough positive responses to this trade that I'm willing to rethink my dislike. As long as Trae doesn't "help" us to a lower trade pick next June, there's no immediate downside to the trade.

I'm sure he'll pick up his option for next year, but our salary profile is low enough that it shouldn't lead to any negative effects. &, who knows, maybe Trae being here will entice a FA we like to look our way? That would be good....

As to what happens after next year, that's a long way off in NBAland. Who knows? Maybe we'll be able to trade him at next year's deadline...? For draft capital...?