The Washington Wizards’ rebuild just got a major jolt of electricity - and his name is Trae Young.
Landing a four-time All-Star at the point guard spot - the very position that’s been a revolving door in Washington for years - is a bold move. And the kicker?
The Wizards didn’t have to mortgage their future to get him. That alone makes this acquisition one of the more intriguing developments of the NBA season.
But what really turns heads is this: Young wanted to be in D.C.
That’s not something we’ve heard often. Even during the heyday of John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards struggled to attract marquee names. So when a player of Young’s caliber singles out Washington as his preferred destination, it signals a potential shift in how the franchise is perceived around the league.
Still, while Young’s arrival brings star power and playmaking, it also raises questions - especially when it comes to the development of the Wizards’ young core.
Let’s start with Alex Sarr. The rookie big man has already shown flashes of elite defensive instincts and rim protection, but what he’s lacked is a high-level orchestrator to get him easy looks and help him grow offensively.
Enter Trae Young. Few guards in the league manipulate defenses and create out of the pick-and-roll like Young does, and that could be a game-changer for Sarr’s development.
With Young feeding him in stride, Sarr’s offensive game could take a major step forward.
But there’s another side to this coin - and it revolves around Kyshawn George.
George has been one of the breakout stories of the season. The rookie wing has thrived with the ball in his hands, showcasing a rare blend of scoring, vision, and poise. He’s been a revelation for a team in search of identity, and much of that has come from being given the freedom to initiate offense and make plays.
So the concern is valid: What happens to George’s growth when Young - a ball-dominant guard - steps into the lineup?
It’s a fair question. Young is at his best when he’s controlling the tempo and operating with the ball, which could mean fewer touches and fewer opportunities for George to continue blossoming as a lead creator. But that doesn’t necessarily mean George will be pushed to the background.
There’s a growing belief that there’s enough offensive responsibility to go around - especially if Young buys into the idea of empowering his teammates. And based on his recent social media shoutout, that’s exactly what he seems ready to do.
After George’s monster performance against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday - a game that turned heads across the league - Young took to X (formerly Twitter) to give the rookie his flowers:
“Young bull is really like that…🔥”
That’s not just a casual compliment. That’s a veteran star publicly acknowledging the rise of a young teammate, and it speaks volumes about the kind of dynamic Young could help foster in Washington. If he embraces the role of mentor and facilitator - not just scorer - it could unlock the full potential of this young Wizards core.
George, for his part, is playing with supreme confidence. He’s not waiting for his moment - he’s taking it. And that mindset, combined with Young’s gravity and playmaking, could actually make for a potent pairing.
We haven’t seen them share the court yet, so the on-court chemistry remains a question mark. But based on everything we’ve seen - George’s emergence, Young’s arrival, and the mutual respect already brewing - there’s reason to believe the Wizards might be onto something.
For a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral for years, that’s a welcome change of pace.