The Washington Wizards made the first, and so far, only deal as the NBA churns closer to the trade deadline. The Wizards traded CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert for four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young. While he’s yet to make his Washington debut, the newest Wizard has made it clear he wants to stick around in the DMV area.
Wizards And Newest Star Have The Same Long-Term Plan
The Wizards, now with Young, have pushed their rebuilding timeline up tremendously. However, Young is on an expiring player-option contract. That being said, there was no guarantee he would be in the DMV after this season. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, both sides are interested in a contract extension.
“Young holds a player option for $49 million for next season, and both sides are open to an extension, sources told ESPN. But there’s also the possibility that Young simply picks up his player option and uses next season as an evaluation period with the Wizards as well.”
Young’s player option is worth almost $50 million, but it would benefit both him and the Wizards. With both sides interested, let’s dive into potential cap space and possible moves Washington can make in the offseason to ensure money won’t be an issue.
Money Is Everything
The Wizards were on track to make a huge splash in free agency over the offseason. Now with Young, their money will be just a little tighter. Washington has four players currently whose contracts are set to expire after the season. Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley, Malaki Branham, and Anthony Gill will be free agents following the end of the season. Middleton’s contract is by far the biggest ($33 million) and will offer the Wizards some breathing room over the free agency period. However, Bagley, Branham, and Gill’s contracts are all under $5 million. In total, over $60 million will be cut from this season’s payroll to the 2026-27 campaign.
Now, diving into the offseason, two big-time periods over the dead period need to be discussed.
Offseason Major: Draft
The Wizards are (yet again) a frontrunner for the number one overall pick in a tight tank race. With that, Washington must go two-for-two this offseason. This would ensure competitive basketball next season and in the future. If they stay in the top three (where they currently are), Washington will have a chance to draft an immediate contributor and a potential star. Currently, the undisputed top three, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa, could come in and revolutionize Washington’s lineup. The entire 2026 NBA Draft will be stacked, but it’s crucial to pick the right piece for your puzzle.
Young, Kyshawn George, Johnson, and Alex Sarr are filling out the lineup next season. However, Washington is in desperate need of a true power forward. Meaning, if Boozer is available, he would be the best fit and provide an immediate impact to a team that could use a serious boost at his position.
The Wizards also own a later pick in the first round, courtesy of the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, whoever is picked here most likely would get similar treatment to Will Riley, AJ Johnson, and Jamir Watkins. They’ve been developing their talents in the G-League while providing a deep bench option for the Wizards.
Regarding the cap space, Washington will lose some with a top rookie deal. However, they will take the cut in money for another piece to their growing core. Cooper Flagg, who went first overall in 2025, signed a deal worth almost $63 million over four years. Coming out to around $15 million a year, hypothetically, Washington would still have lots of room for the free agency period.
Offseason Minor: Free Agency
Now, diving even further into the future, the free agency will be huge for Washington. Young’s contract will take a chunk out of their future money, but not all of it. With that, Washington will have some cash to work with in filling out the roster. With this new era upon Wizards basketball, two things should happen in free agency. Either Washington goes after at least a B-tier player to pair with Young and the rising stars of Sarr and Tre Johnson. Or, option B, the Wizards sign multiple players to fill out the rotation.
Players like Anfernee Simons, Norman Powell, and Rui Hachimura could be on Washington’s radar if they want to offer a bigger contract to one name. However, Jordan Goodwin, Jordan Clarkson, and Nick Richards have smaller contracts that could help fill out the depth on the roster. There are rumors the front office is going to offer a massive deal to Walker Kessler, who is a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason. However, until the end of the season, it’s a guessing game on who they will go after, so take everything with a grain of salt.
The Last Word
The Wizards are in a perfect position. Getting Young on board and keeping cap space is crucial in today’s game. The bench is where games are won and lost, and using that money to go get a true bench scorer or multiple pieces would go a long way in competing for a postseason spot next season.
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