Trae Young isn’t pretending to be something he’s not in Washington.
The Wizards brought him in, along with Anthony Davis, because they want to climb back into contention, and that starts with fixing a defense that was the NBA’s worst last season. Young knows exactly where he fits into that picture. He’s not a big, rangy stopper, and he’s not trying to sell anyone on that idea.
“Defense is about effort and energy. Obviously, you’ve got to have the physical tool, too.
I am one of the guys that standout as not being one of the 6’6, 6’7, 6’9 guys, but I am still able to play in this league because I do something special that a lot of guys can’t on the other end. I am probably going to be the weak link on our team defensively, but I can still give a lot of effort and be there to help my guys.
Not just let my guys go to the basket…I know I got a lot of rim protectors and help behind me now, so that is going to make my job easier to be out there and give effort.”
That’s the reality of Young’s game. He has always carried a huge load on offense, and that has made it tough to empty the tank on defense every possession.
At 6’2, he’s been an easy target for opponents, and the criticism has followed him for years. Still, the signs point to a player who has at least started to take that end more seriously.
The numbers back up the improvement, even if they don’t exactly make him a stopper. Early in his career, Young posted a negative-2.4 or worse D-LeBron in each of his first three seasons.
In the 2025-26 campaign, that mark climbed to a career-high negative-1.3. His defensive box plus-minus also reached a personal best in eight NBA seasons at negative-1.4.
The work rate and intensity were better.
Washington does not need Young to be a lockdown guard. It needs him to compete, stay engaged, and avoid being a complete liability.
He can live in the below-average range if the effort is there. That’s the bet the Wizards are making.
And they have reason to believe the damage can be covered. Davis gives them a proven anchor - he has made five All-Defensive teams, including three first-team selections.
Alex Sarr brings real rim protection after averaging 2.0 blocks per game in his second NBA season. Deandre Ayton adds another seven-footer, and he wants to become the best backup big man in the league.
Washington also has size on the wings, which should help hide some of Young’s mistakes.
That support system is a big reason the Wizards were comfortable giving Young a four-year, $212.8 million extension this summer. It’s also why the team thinks this pairing can work, even with all the obvious questions that came with trading for Young and Davis. Young’s teams have missed the playoffs three straight years, and he hasn’t won a playoff series since reaching the conference finals in 2021.
The defensive issue is not theoretical. Atlanta was bounced in the Play-In Tournament in 2024 and 2025 after being outscored in Young’s minutes on the floor. The Hawks didn’t have the kind of backline help Washington can offer now, but the point still stands: Young has to hold up enough for the whole scheme to function.
He said the right things. Now he has to show it every night.
The Wizards are planning to shock people this season, and Young is central to that push. If he’s locked in and competing on both ends, Washington has a chance to be more than a feel-good idea. If he slips back into being one of the league’s weakest defenders, it gets a lot harder.
Young knows the assignment. The Wizards need the effort to match the words.
In Other News...
Anthony Davis Framed This Wizards Season As A Personal Reckoning
Anthony Davis is treating this season in Washington as more than a fresh start. On a podcast, he talked about his determination to prove doubters wrong with the Wizards, framing the year as a personal reckoning after a stretch in which questions have followed him. He also pointed to the people around him as reasons for optimism, noting the upside of sharing the floor with Trae Young and rookie AJ Dybantsa.
There is real meaning attached to how this begins. Contract extension talks between Davis and the Wizards have been put on hold, which makes the opening stretch of the season even more important for both sides. If Washington is going to convince him, and if Davis is going to strengthen his own case, the early months could carry a weight that goes well beyond the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Are Taking A Risk With Anthony Davis They May Regret
Anthony Davis has long wanted to operate as a power forward, but the fit has always been more complicated than that. He has often been at his best as a center, especially alongside another big man, and the Wizards have essentially built around the idea of giving him the four spot, even going so far as to bring in Deandre Ayton to help make it work.
Washingtons bet comes with real questions attached, though, because the spacing around Davis is still a concern and the roster does not offer much obvious shooting relief. Add in the fact that he is in the final guaranteed year of his contract and has not yet played for the Wizards, and the pressure only grows if a new deal is not reached and trade talks start to loom. [Read more 🡒]