Trae Young, Come on DOWN

[9 and 20]

I'm looking forward to 40 wins next year, maybe 50 if I'm greedy. Then maybe being players in free agency again after next year. Maybe that makes me impatient or guilty of not expecting enough out of the team. I'm ready to bank on continued improvement of our young guys though. Trae is kind of peripheral to that - I don't see him as central to that kind of jump. It could have been any vets they added this offseason - I would have expected that kind of winning and turnaround. It just happens to be Trae that was available. Is he the right guy? Who knows.

All kind of hinges on keeping the pick this year and not doing an over the top extension for Trae.

[lastemp3ror]

On of the guys on the sports junkies mentioned that his "source" told him that Trae's agents are already asking for a $200m contract from the Wiz.

[AFM]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6956197/2026/01/09/trae-young-trade-wizards-hawks-heat-nba-trends/

The Washington Wizards have a new point guard.

The trade for Trae Young, which the Wizards agreed to Wednesday night, as previously reported by The Athletic, was more about next season than whatever remains in this one. Washington owes a protected first-round pick to the New York Knicks, and it will make sure to hold onto it, which could mean Young’s rehab from a quad injury conspicuously carries on for another four months.

But once Young does compete again, whether that’s in the spring or in 2026-27, a new focus comes into play: His dynamic with the 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr. There’s a real chance Young will change the young center’s geography.

Sarr has never teamed with a dynamic pick-and-roll facilitator like Young. And he’s never so consistently ventured to the places Young will surely take him.

The 20-year-old’s main pick-and-roll partner this season had been CJ McCollum, who is now headed to the Atlanta Hawks in the trade. It’s a wonder who will take over with Young now on the sidelines — probably a smattering of Kyshawn George, Khris Middleton, Bub Carrington and maybe rookie first-rounder Tre Johnson, whose decision-making with the basketball has taken a step forward over the past month.

But none of those combinations will look a smidge like a pick-and-roll with Young will.

The four-time All-Star runs the deepest pick-and-rolls in the NBA, a habit that’s unlikely to stop once he pairs with a center who can shoot 3s as competently as Sarr.

For all his flaws — the defense, the size, the ball dominance — Young is one of his generation’s pick-and-roll maestros, not just because of how often he runs them but also because of where he wants screens. For the sake of the incoming statistic, let’s come up with a new term: “A deep pick-and-roll,” defined as a pick-and-roll where the screens come at least 27 feet away from the rim. Over his eight-year career, Young has averaged 28.2 deep pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions, the highest figure in the NBA by a long shot, according to Second Spectrum.

Once Young carries these deep picks to D.C., Sarr will have more space to operate after laying a screen. For reference, he’s averaged 12.6 deep pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions this season.

Young receives a new perk, too.

This concept excited the Hawks coming into the season, when they were fresh off trading for 3-point bomber Kristaps Porziņģis. Young had spent most of his career with rim-diving big men, like Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu, who started shooting 3s more this season. Porziņģis was one of the few guys who could launch triples from as far out as Young could. The deep pick-and-rolls would be plentiful and potentially devastating.

But because of injuries, Young and Porziņģis played only three games together this season.

Sarr is not a Porziņģis-level shooter — few are — but the Wizards believe he can evolve into a versatile pick-and-roll option, someone who can throw down lobs, receive passes down low to finish with touch and also pop out for 3s. His face-up game has improved this season. If he and Young go into a deep pick-and-roll only for Sarr to receive a pass before the free-throw line, he is capable of attacking the hoop from there.

Sarr is already one of the league’s most improved players this season. The addition of a pass-savvy point guard who can create space with more than just his shot could help him take another step, too.

[doclinkin]

I’ve tried to talk myself into liking this deal. I can’t.

I’m hoping the deal is really about the tank. The timing seems right. They had to get rid of CJ. The team is/was getting better and risking the loss of the ‘26 pick.

But, Trae Young? He betrays Dawkins principles.

If the deal is to shut down Young and keep the pick, then I get it. But, I have a bad feeling that an extension is coming.

Regardless, I don’t think Trae helps the Wiz next season with the big picture. That big picture has included 2 way players, length, and integrating players into their motion offense.

Trae doesn’t fit. At all. He is a step back. Maybe a sugar rush at times. But, with Dawkins, I think we have all wanted player development and a path towards a Thunder-like team.

So far, Dawkins has been delivering. We have seen player development. Including better defense - both in the lane and on the perimeter (Bub, for instance, has become a better 1-on-1 defender). We have been doing things the right way with the re-build. And, the improved play is proof of that.

The offense struggles. We don’t have a true point guard. But, Trae will dominate the ball if the Wiz keep him. That’s likely the end of the motion offense, which everyone has been trained in. I don’t see how Trae and Keefe co-exist. Keefe has shown growth as a coach of young, developing players. But, who thinks that Trae will do anything but his own thing once he’s the starter. That will undermine a lot of what the Wizards have been doing.

If Trae starts, there is no defensive solution. He has been terrible. He’s the opposite of what the Wizards have been building for.

If Ted pulled the trigger, I’m pissed. If Dawkins pulled the trigger, then I hope Trae is just a brief flashing light on the road to building a championship contender.

To all your fears, I would say only this: reread the reactions across wizards fandom when we picked up Jordan Poole, Malcolm Brogdon, Chris McCollum, Marcus Smart, Tyus Jones etc. There were fans all over the sites and social media who said similar things that we were getting washed up no defense players that cost too much or didn’t fit with the Wizards plan.

They didn’t. Except. We can’t fill the cap with this many young players unless we are a wildlife sanctuary for overpaid former stars. We only land them when they are on the last couple years of their contract. Then in most cases we ship them for returned value. The only players they’ve inked to longer deals have been Kispert and Kuzma. Both of whom were sent out for better return.

I’m not worried. This front office generally makes value deals. The long term contract decisions seem to be in the hands of Winger who clearly has a good grasp of the market.

Trae Young would have cost more if teams sought him out in prior years. We got him for nothing much in an expiring year. If we rehab his value we can ship him for profit. Or hey maybe he’s great here. Either way I’d bet both camps would rather see him on his picked up option to audition for his next contract next year.

[nate33]

I'm looking forward to 40 wins next year, maybe 50 if I'm greedy. Then maybe being players in free agency again after next year. Maybe that makes me impatient or guilty of not expecting enough out of the team. I'm ready to bank on continued improvement of our young guys though. Trae is kind of peripheral to that - I don't see him as central to that kind of jump. It could have been any vets they added this offseason - I would have expected that kind of winning and turnaround. It just happens to be Trae that was available. Is he the right guy? Who knows.

All kind of hinges on keeping the pick this year and not doing an over the top extension for Trae.

50 wins is greedy.

It's not too hard to improve from a 25-win team to a 40-win team, but wins come a lot harder after that. The team is still very young, raw and lacking in strength.

[closg00]

On of the guys on the sports junkies mentioned that his "source" told him that Trae's agents are already asking for a $200m contract from the Wiz.

I just hope we don’t use Trae as a shortcut to having a starting PG because Bub didn’t work out. If Trae gets a Beal/Wall type contract, or we re-structure and extend his current contract, then we know that Ted got involved.

[nate33]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6956197/2026/01/09/trae-young-trade-wizards-hawks-heat-nba-trends/

The Washington Wizards have a new point guard.

The trade for Trae Young, which the Wizards agreed to Wednesday night, as previously reported by The Athletic, was more about next season than whatever remains in this one. Washington owes a protected first-round pick to the New York Knicks, and it will make sure to hold onto it, which could mean Young’s rehab from a quad injury conspicuously carries on for another four months.

But once Young does compete again, whether that’s in the spring or in 2026-27, a new focus comes into play: His dynamic with the 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr. There’s a real chance Young will change the young center’s geography.

Sarr has never teamed with a dynamic pick-and-roll facilitator like Young. And he’s never so consistently ventured to the places Young will surely take him.

The 20-year-old’s main pick-and-roll partner this season had been CJ McCollum, who is now headed to the Atlanta Hawks in the trade. It’s a wonder who will take over with Young now on the sidelines — probably a smattering of Kyshawn George, Khris Middleton, Bub Carrington and maybe rookie first-rounder Tre Johnson, whose decision-making with the basketball has taken a step forward over the past month.

But none of those combinations will look a smidge like a pick-and-roll with Young will.

The four-time All-Star runs the deepest pick-and-rolls in the NBA, a habit that’s unlikely to stop once he pairs with a center who can shoot 3s as competently as Sarr.

For all his flaws — the defense, the size, the ball dominance — Young is one of his generation’s pick-and-roll maestros, not just because of how often he runs them but also because of where he wants screens. For the sake of the incoming statistic, let’s come up with a new term: “A deep pick-and-roll,” defined as a pick-and-roll where the screens come at least 27 feet away from the rim. Over his eight-year career, Young has averaged 28.2 deep pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions, the highest figure in the NBA by a long shot, according to Second Spectrum.

Once Young carries these deep picks to D.C., Sarr will have more space to operate after laying a screen. For reference, he’s averaged 12.6 deep pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions this season.

Young receives a new perk, too.

This concept excited the Hawks coming into the season, when they were fresh off trading for 3-point bomber Kristaps Porziņģis. Young had spent most of his career with rim-diving big men, like Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu, who started shooting 3s more this season. Porziņģis was one of the few guys who could launch triples from as far out as Young could. The deep pick-and-rolls would be plentiful and potentially devastating.

But because of injuries, Young and Porziņģis played only three games together this season.

Sarr is not a Porziņģis-level shooter — few are — but the Wizards believe he can evolve into a versatile pick-and-roll option, someone who can throw down lobs, receive passes down low to finish with touch and also pop out for 3s. His face-up game has improved this season. If he and Young go into a deep pick-and-roll only for Sarr to receive a pass before the free-throw line, he is capable of attacking the hoop from there.

Sarr is already one of the league’s most improved players this season. The addition of a pass-savvy point guard who can create space with more than just his shot could help him take another step, too.

Interesting stuff. With Young preferring deep pick-and-rolls, and with Tre Johnson comfortably launching logo 3's, and Kyshawn being a capable 3-point shooter, the spacing should be incredible. There should be enough room to facilitate Bilal and Champagnie making a ton of backdoor cuts.

[nate33]

On of the guys on the sports junkies mentioned that his "source" told him that Trae's agents are already asking for a $200m contract from the Wiz.

I'm sure he is. But he's not going to get it - at least not this summer.

The first thing we need to do is see who we end up with in the draft. If it's a PG, then we won't really have a long term need for Trae and we will probably just keep him for one year on his player option and maybe move him at the Trade Deadline.

If we draft a big, then they can start negotiating an extension. My guess is that the Wizards would want Trae to opt out and resign a lower deal, something like 4 years, $140M. Trae's people would probably balk, and so he will opt in and they will figure things in Summer 2027 after we see how Trae plays here.

[nate33]

I’ve tried to talk myself into liking this deal. I can’t.

I’m hoping the deal is really about the tank. The timing seems right. They had to get rid of CJ. The team is/was getting better and risking the loss of the ‘26 pick.

But, Trae Young? He betrays Dawkins principles.

If the deal is to shut down Young and keep the pick, then I get it. But, I have a bad feeling that an extension is coming.

Regardless, I don’t think Trae helps the Wiz next season with the big picture. That big picture has included 2 way players, length, and integrating players into their motion offense.

Trae doesn’t fit. At all. He is a step back. Maybe a sugar rush at times. But, with Dawkins, I think we have all wanted player development and a path towards a Thunder-like team.

So far, Dawkins has been delivering. We have seen player development. Including better defense - both in the lane and on the perimeter (Bub, for instance, has become a better 1-on-1 defender). We have been doing things the right way with the re-build. And, the improved play is proof of that.

The offense struggles. We don’t have a true point guard. But, Trae will dominate the ball if the Wiz keep him. That’s likely the end of the motion offense, which everyone has been trained in. I don’t see how Trae and Keefe co-exist. Keefe has shown growth as a coach of young, developing players. But, who thinks that Trae will do anything but his own thing once he’s the starter. That will undermine a lot of what the Wizards have been doing.

If Trae starts, there is no defensive solution. He has been terrible. He’s the opposite of what the Wizards have been building for.

If Ted pulled the trigger, I’m pissed. If Dawkins pulled the trigger, then I hope Trae is just a brief flashing light on the road to building a championship contender.

I totally understand this sentiment, but I find myself going the other way.

As long as they successfully tank for the rest of the season, I think this trade is going to turn out pretty well. There was virtually no opportunity cost, and there is a potential for a substantial gain.

I recognize all the problems with Trae defensively. But also recognize that Trae has seen first hand that teams don't value him anymore and that he can't just refrain from trying on defense anymore. He will be playing for a new contract and will absolutely be on his best behavior. That won't mean he'll be a good defender, but I do think it will mean that he won't sabotage the defensive energy that Keefe is trying to promote. He will try. He'll just get beat a lot.

And on offense, yes, the acquisition of Trae will mean we shift from the motion offense into a PG dominant offense. But let's not forget that the motion offense ranked 27th in the league, and that was partially due to McCollum's freakishly effective one-on-one game. And the offense ground to a total halt in crunch time unless it was McCollum creating something out of nothing. For the most part, I think our players aren't really cut out for a motion offense system except for Kyshawn and Riley. Tre should be coming off screens and curls. Coulibaly, Whitmore and Champagne should be catch-and-shoot and attacking close-outs. Sarr should be in the pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll. All that will still happen with Trae.

I don't think Trae is the long term answer. I think the type of teams you face in the playoffs, with talent and good coaching, will be able to attack Trae's defense so much that it will be impossible to win. But that's a problem we can address in the future. I think having one season of Trae Young at the helm will probably be good for the development of our roster. Maybe it'll be really, really good and we decide to extend Trae. And maybe it will be a mixed bag in which case we just let him go and do something else with all that cap room. There's no real downside.

[payitforward]

The key here is how little it has cost us to try out Trae Young. Don't even count CJ, since he was more likely be a buy-out candidate than to get us anything in return.

In effect, we gave up the future value of Corey Kispert to test the future value of Trae Young. I'm not a fan of Trae Young, but even I consider that a good deal for us!

Trae won't play much the rest of this season; the tank won't suffer. & to the degree that he does play we'll get a chance to see our young kids work with a pick and roll guru.

Come the off season, I'm sure he'll pick up his option. Whereupon, his agents will have time to craft his next deal with whoever wants him, & if they are successful, he may even be tradable again, for a little something, at next year's deadline!

IOW, to me it looks like we have just bought a solid range of possibilities -- at the sole cost of Corey Kispert.

[payitforward]

nate makes a similar point to mine (but makes it better, of course).

[AFM]

Read on Twitter

[DCZards]

The offense struggles. We don’t have a true point guard. But, Trae will dominate the ball if the Wiz keep him. That’s likely the end of the motion offense, which everyone has been trained in. I don’t see how Trae and Keefe co-exist. Keefe has shown growth as a coach of young, developing players. But, who thinks that Trae will do anything but his own thing once he’s the starter. That will undermine a lot of what the Wizards have been doing.

This is where I think you’re wrong. You don’t average 10 assists for your career by being totally ball dominant. PG is the most important position in bball, imo, and if Trae is willing to see his usage go down, which he may be at this point in his career, he can be a valuable oncourt asset for the Zards going forward…and the key to unlocking the offensive potential of our youngins, especially Sarr and Tre.

As for Young’s size, D, and style of play not being consistent with Dawkins principles, rules/principles are made to be broken, especially if it’s in the best interest of the process.

[FAH1223]

On of the guys on the sports junkies mentioned that his "source" told him that Trae's agents are already asking for a $200m contract from the Wiz.

Trae Young is never getting $200M ever again.

I can easily see him re-signing for what Kyrie Irving just got in the summer which was 3 years $120M.

[Frichuela]

Read on Twitter

"It's time to see what's possible when the support is real and the vision is clear" Strong endorsement of Dawkins & co.

[payitforward]

A very nice sentiment.

[payitforward]

The offense struggles. We don’t have a true point guard. But, Trae will dominate the ball if the Wiz keep him. That’s likely the end of the motion offense, which everyone has been trained in. I don’t see how Trae and Keefe co-exist. Keefe has shown growth as a coach of young, developing players. But, who thinks that Trae will do anything but his own thing once he’s the starter. That will undermine a lot of what the Wizards have been doing.

This is where I think you’re wrong. You don’t average 10 assists for your career by being totally ball dominant. PG is the most important position in bball, imo, and if Trae is willing to see his usage go down, which he may be at this point in his career, he can be a valuable oncourt asset for the Zards going forward…and the key to unlocking the offensive potential of our youngins, especially Sarr and Tre.

As for Young’s size, D, and style of play not being consistent with Dawkins principles, rules/principles are made to be broken, especially when it’s in the best interest of the process.

Great post, Zards!

You can say Trae is a flawed player, but you can't deny that he's an extremely talented player.

[lastemp3ror]

On of the guys on the sports junkies mentioned that his "source" told him that Trae's agents are already asking for a $200m contract from the Wiz.

I just hope we don’t use Trae as a shortcut to having a starting PG because Bub didn’t work out. If Trae gets a Beal/Wall type contract, or we re-structure and extend his current contract, then we know that Ted got involved.

If he gets an extension prior to next season, not only did Ted get involved, but the similarities between Trae's extension and Arena's and Wall's extension cannot be overlooked. All three are PG's, who got extensions after an injury-riddled season/off-season.

[FAH1223]

On of the guys on the sports junkies mentioned that his "source" told him that Trae's agents are already asking for a $200m contract from the Wiz.

I just hope we don’t use Trae as a shortcut to having a starting PG because Bub didn’t work out. If Trae gets a Beal/Wall type contract, or we re-structure and extend his current contract, then we know that Ted got involved.

Josh Robbins says the Wizards brass doesn't view Bub Carrington as a PG.

He's an off ball guard.

[Rafael122]

Was listening to the Hoops Collective pod on the way into work, and Windhorst alluded to the Wizards letting the Hawks know they needed to take Kispert if the Wizards weren't getting picks back.

Edit: Oh, and it also sounds like this deal was done over the weekend.