"There are already rumbles about Young ultimately securing a two-year extension from the Wizards ... no matter how much or how little he plays for the rest of the season with Washington desperate to hold onto a first-round pick that is only top-eight protected. Atlanta's well-known reluctance to extend Young's contract in the summer was the first domino that led to this week's Trae-to-DC trade materializing before his eighth season as a Hawk had even reached the halfway point."
"This was always going to be a sensible path for the Wizards to walk concerning Young. You don't want to risk losing him for nothing, so incurring the cost of an extension is a necessary evil. Then, holding him out while you determine more long-term steps makes sense as well. Young could very well be this team's starting point guard of the future, or he could be flipped again further down the line if Washington wishes to go in that direction."
The Washington Wizards are likely to sign Trae Young to a short-term extension and limit his playing time this season to protect a top-eight protected first-round pick. Atlanta's earlier refusal to extend Young prompted the trade before his eighth season concluded. Extending removes the risk of losing Young for nothing and preserves roster and trade flexibility. Sitting him allows Young to acclimate to the organization while the team evaluates longer-term options. The Wizards remain in asset-accumulation and rebuilding mode rather than immediate contention, making draft-protection priorities more important than incremental wins this season.
Read at Wiz of Awes
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