Wizards Taking the Long View with Trae Young’s Return
The Washington Wizards are playing the long game with Trae Young - not rushing him back, but not shelving him either. General Manager Will Dawkins made it clear: Young won’t be back on the floor before the All-Star break, but the door remains open for a return later this season.
It’s a calculated move, and one that speaks volumes about where the franchise is headed. Dawkins emphasized the importance of eventually seeing how Young meshes with the Wizards’ young core - namely Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly. That trio represents a potential foundation, but it’s still a theory waiting to be tested.
“It’s important because Trae has a decision to make,” Dawkins said, pointing to Young’s looming player option for the 2026-27 season - a hefty $49 million decision, to be exact. “You want to make sure that he’s comfortable playing with the young guys… We have a lot of questions on our team and how we play moving forward.”
So far, Young’s time in D.C. has been brief - just 10 games, with injuries keeping him sidelined. But with the second half of the season still ahead, there’s a chance for a meaningful sample size. A strong return could shift the conversation, opening doors to either an opt-out scenario or a long-term extension.
Dawkins also noted that the Wizards have kept an open line of communication with Young’s camp. That’s not just about transparency - it’s about building trust and setting the stage for whatever comes next.
Hawks Prioritizing Size in Post-Trae Era
Back in Atlanta, the focus has shifted - and it’s all about the frontcourt. With Trae Young now in Washington, the Hawks are looking to stabilize a roster that’s been stretched thin up front, especially with Kristaps Porzingis missing significant time due to injury and illness.
When Porzingis is on the court, Atlanta looks like a different team. When he’s not, the cracks show - particularly on defense and the glass. The Hawks are near the bottom of the league in rebound percentage and have been giving up a concerning amount of points in the paint.
The trade that sent Young out also gave Atlanta some financial breathing room. They now have the flexibility to absorb salary through the 2026-27 season, which opens the door to some intriguing possibilities.
One theoretical swing? Anthony Davis.
But that’s a big swing - and it would take more than Porzingis’ $30.7 million expiring contract to make the math work under the luxury tax.
Corey Kispert’s recently acquired salary can’t be aggregated in a trade just yet, but Luke Kennard’s $11 million expiring deal could be a useful piece in any potential move. The Hawks have options - and they’ll need to get creative if they want to shore up their interior presence without compromising long-term flexibility.
Celtics’ No-Rebuild Approach Paying Off
Meanwhile in Boston, the Celtics’ decision to steer clear of a rebuild is looking smarter by the day.
Last summer, Brad Stevens made it clear: the Celtics weren’t going to tear it down, even after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and a series of roster shakeups that included moving on from Jrue Holiday and Porzingis. That conviction is paying off. Boston has climbed to No. 2 in the Eastern Conference, outperforming expectations while keeping their future options wide open.
The Celtics trimmed more than $300 million off the books last offseason, and they’re still in a position to keep cutting if they choose. Anfernee Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract is one potential lever. He’s been solid off the bench, averaging 13.6 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from deep - a valuable asset whether Boston wants to keep him or move him.
Now comes the decision: does Boston keep managing the cap and playing the long game, or do they push chips in and go after reinforcements ahead of Tatum’s eventual return?
They’re still over the first apron, which limits some trade mechanisms, but they’ve got three trade exceptions created after July 1 that could come into play. The front office has options - and the luxury of a team that’s already winning while waiting for its superstar to get healthy.
Bottom Line
Whether it’s Washington’s deliberate approach with Trae Young, Atlanta’s search for size, or Boston’s balance between cap management and contention, each team is navigating a pivotal stretch of the season with an eye on both the present and the future. The trade deadline looms, and the decisions made in the next few weeks could shape these franchises for years to come.