Trae Young is heading to free agency. The Washington Wizards guard plans to decline his $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season, per Andscape’s Marc Spears and confirmed by ESPN sources. He officially becomes a free agent on Monday, June 22.
Washington remains the front-runner to re-sign the four-time All-Star, but multiple teams are expected to pursue him once the moratorium ends.
A rocky first season in Washington
Young’s run with the Wizards was brief and painful. Acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in January in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, he played just five games before the season ended. Combined across Atlanta and Washington, he posted 17.9 points and 8.0 assists in only 15 games – a fraction of what both he and the Wizards had expected.
He had entered the year determined to earn a four-year, $229 million max extension. A sprained right MCL in his fifth game in late October ended that plan before it started.
What the Wizards are betting on
By opting out rather than taking the $48.97M guarantee, Young is signaling confidence in his market value – and in his health. A new deal, likely in the range of a three-year max, would give him more money over the long run if he proves he can stay on the court.
Washington believes strongly in the duo of Young and Anthony Davis, acquired last season, as the veteran anchor for one of the youngest rosters in the league. That core includes second-year center Alex Sarr, guards Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Bub Carrington – plus the incoming No. 1 overall pick from next week’s draft.
The pitch to Young is straightforward: be the quarterback of a team built around him, with a franchise prepared to compete for a playoff spot as early as next season.
Who could make a move?
Several teams are expected to call. Young’s scoring punch (career average: 26.4 points per game before the injury) and elite playmaking (9.8 assists per game over eight seasons) make him one of the most attractive names entering free agency.
The player option deadline is Saturday. Free agency officially opens June 30, with contracts signed starting July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET. Washington has every incentive to move fast – and, per sources, every intention to do so.
[Update – June 25, 2026, 09:00 UTC] Trae Young has agreed to a four-year, $212 million extension to remain with the Washington Wizards, per Yahoo Sports and multiple sources. Young, who declined his $48.97 million player option earlier this month to enter free agency, now returns on a max deal that locks him in alongside No. 1 overall pick A.J. Dybantsa. Source: Yahoo Sports.
