The Washington Wizards and Trae Young agreed to a contract on Monday that sent shockwaves through the NBA world.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news on Monday afternoon that the Wizards and Young agreed to a four-year, $212 million contract that includes a player option for Year 4. Young declined his $49 million player option to agree to the new deal ahead of free agency.
BREAKING: Trae Young intends to sign a four-year, approximately $212 million deal to stay with the Washington Wizards, with a player option in Year 4, sources tell ESPN. The four-time NBA All-Star declined his $49M player option for a long-term commitment ahead of free agency. pic.twitter.com/BAGANqomo0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
Just in on NBA Today — Trae Young plans to sign a four-year, $212 million contract to return to the Washington Wizards, six-plus months after wanting to join a rebuilding franchise that now aims to compete in the East: pic.twitter.com/JtvD26DFR0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
The Wizards acquired Young in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in January.
Young, 27, averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 assists over 15 games last season, five of which were with the Wizards.
While he’s a four-time All-Star, Young’s statistical prime was in his first few NBA seasons with the Hawks.
Additionally, the Wizards won an NBA-worst 17 games in the 2025-26 season and are in a rebuilding phase. Having Young, to go with Anthony Davis (acquired by the Wizards in February) and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (which likely features selecting BYU forward AJ Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson), certainly upgrades the team, but Washington still has a long way to go to reach title contention.
ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst couldn’t believe the contract.
“I just want to pause and raise a glass to Trae Young and his agent… What an absolutely jaw-dropping deal,” Windhorst said on Monday’s edition of NBA Today.
“What an absolute jaw-dropping deal!” 😮@WindhorstESPN on what Trae Young’s new deal means for the Wizards’ future 👀 pic.twitter.com/wKh61jpJ8z
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 22, 2026
Here’s a look at more reactions to the Young agreement with the Wizards from a stunned NBA world on Monday:
My salary model has Trae Young at $115.1 million in value over the next four years, assuming an average of 70 games played / 34 mpg. That makes his $212 million contract underwater by $97 million.
Model is here to evaluate every player: https://t.co/lQ9XM0MUEo
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) June 22, 2026
Yea I think this Trae Young contract is worse than the De’Aaron Fox deal.
I bet the Wizards start reasonably hot next year and their fans dig this tweet back up, but in the long run, that deal is just a significant overpay. I would’ve let him walk.
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) June 22, 2026
New DeAaron Fox contract just dropped?
I don’t understand the urgency from the Wizards to shell out this much money before seeing Trae Young play more than 5 games for them, let alone with their new number 1 pick to see if the pairing even makes sense. https://t.co/oeskfxbuJ1
— Michael Martin (@MichaelOnSports) June 22, 2026
Shocked by the number here. 3/$120M was the reported number for months but Trae ended up securing another year and an extra $13M AAV to return to the Wizards. I guess in the end, with Brooklyn and Chicago looming as cap space teams, Trae had the leverage. https://t.co/8WsTbGdN67
— Wizards Film Room (@KevinFolliNBA) June 22, 2026
Trae Young just got the absolute bag from the Wizards. So much for reports of 3 years, $120M. Give his agent a raise.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 22, 2026
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.