Trae Young to Opt Out of $48.97M Deal, Enter Free Agency

WHO:

Hoops Rumors - Trae Young, point guard for the Washington Wizards, four-time All-Star.

RealGM Basketball - Trae Young, represented by Aaron Mintz, Rayford Young, Austin Brown, and Drew Morrison.

WHAT:

Hoops Rumors - Young is expected to re-sign with Washington on a multiyear deal, with a strong possibility of a new three-year contract in the neighborhood of $120 million.

RealGM Basketball - Young is eligible to sign a four-year, $212.9 million contract in free agency, or a five-year, $288 million contract if he re-signs with the Wizards.

Bullets Forever - Young averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 59.5% from the field across five appearances with the Wizards last season.

Hoops Rumors - Young is expected to enter free agency on Monday, with multiple teams anticipated to pursue him.

RealGM Basketball - Young is projected to sign a new three-year contract in the neighborhood of $120 million.

Bullets Forever - Washington believes Young can accelerate the development of a young core that includes Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Bub Carrington.

RealGM Basketball - Young averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 assists across 15 total appearances split between Atlanta and Washington.

Hoops Rumors - Young is expected to enter free agency on Monday, with multiple teams anticipated to pursue him.

RealGM Basketball - Young missed 67 games due to several injuries, including a quad contusion and an MCL sprain that forced him to miss nearly two months following the trade.

Bullets Forever - Young had entered the season seeking to demonstrate his value for a four-year, $229 million maximum extension.

Bullets Forever - Washington has lost 64 or more games in each of the past three seasons.

Bullets Forever - Wizards general manager Michael Winger stated that the team was scheduled to have $85 million in cap space at the time of Young's acquisition.

Hoops Rumors - Young is expected to enter free agency on Monday.

RealGM Basketball - Young is projected to sign a new three-year contract in the neighborhood of $120 million.

RealGM Basketball - Young averaged 24.2 points and a career-high 11.6 assists per contest in 76 games during the 2024/25 season.

NY Post - Young averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 59.5% from the field across five appearances with the Wizards last season.

Bullets Forever - Washington's front office ranked Young as the top 2026 free agent.

Bullets Forever - Wizards general manager Will Dawkins stated that the organization acquired Young to serve as the team’s floor general.

Hoops Rumors - Trae Young plans to decline his $48.97 million option for the 2026/27 season and become an unrestricted free agent.

RealGM Basketball - Young averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 assists across 15 total appearances split between Atlanta and Washington.

RealGM Basketball - Young averaged 9.8 assists over his eight-year career.

Hoops Rumors - Young's projected max contract is worth $212.9 million over four years from a rival team or $287.1 million over five years from the Wizards.

WHERE:

Hoops Rumors - Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks.

RealGM Basketball - Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks.

WHEN:

Hoops Rumors - Young was acquired by the Wizards in midseason from the Hawks.

RealGM Basketball - Young was acquired by the Wizards from the Atlanta Hawks in January.

RealGM Basketball - Young appeared in just five games for Washington after the trade.

WHY:

Hoops Rumors - Young has been impressed by the organization since the Wizards acquired him.

RealGM Basketball - Washington envisions Young and Anthony Davis as an All-Star pairing capable of returning the franchise to playoff contention.

HOW:

Bullets Forever - Wizards general manager Michael Winger stated that the team was scheduled to have $85 million in cap space at the time of Young's acquisition.

Bullets Forever - Wizards general manager Michael Winger revealed that Washington’s front office ranked Young as the top 2026 free agent.

Bullets Forever - The Wizards used their abundance of cap space to acquire Young via trade rather than waiting for him to decline his player option and test free agency.

Hoops Rumors - By declining the option, Young is essentially taking himself off the trade market.

RealGM Basketball - The Hawks dealt Young after identifying Jalen Johnson as their cornerstone, receiving CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in return.

Young is expected to re-sign with the Washington Wizards on a multiyear deal, with reports suggesting a new three-year contract could be worth around $120 million. He is eligible for a four-year contract valued at $212.9 million in free agency, or a five-year deal for $288 million if he stays with the Wizards. Last season, Young averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists while shooting an impressive 59.5% from the field across five games with the team.