Trae Young has never had a setup quite like this.
That’s the real story behind Washington’s new offense. The Wizards didn’t just bring in one useful piece or patch a hole or two. They put Young in a room full of weapons, and that kind of talent density changes everything about how an offense can function.
In Atlanta, Young had strong teammates and even helped push the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but he never really had a true secondary star beside him. Dejounte Murray looked like the right fit on paper, though the two were better apart than together. Jalen Johnson has since grown into an All-Star, but Young missed most of that season and landed in Washington at the trade deadline.
Now the picture is different. In only half a season, the Wizards built a roster around Young that includes Anthony Davis when healthy, No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, and rising talents like Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr. On paper, this is easily the most talented group Young has ever played with at one time.
That matters because the assists should pile up.
If everything clicks, Young has a real chance to lead the NBA in total assists for a fourth time and in assists per game for the second time in his career. The early signs are already there.
In Washington’s latest preseason win over the Detroit Pistons, Young handed out eight assists in 23 minutes. The game before that, he had four assists in 17 minutes.
Not dominant yet, but the framework is obvious.
The real edge comes from the options around him in the pick-and-roll. Young will have three strong to elite partners in Davis, Sarr, and Deandre Ayton.
Davis and Sarr can both finish at the rim and also stretch the floor enough to matter as pick-and-pop threats, even if their previous percentages haven’t always reflected that skill. Ayton brings a different look: a big target who has already worked well with elite point guards as a lob finisher and paint scorer.
There’s more than half-court creation here, too. Young should be able to feed transition chances as well, and Dybantsa gives the Wizards another explosive athlete who can run the floor and turn those passes into easy points.
And then there’s the shooting. That part could determine just how far this offense goes, but Washington does have real outlets for Young to trust. Tre Johnson, Khris Middleton, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George all bring the kind of deep shooting that can keep the floor open and give Young clean reads.
Young has already finished as the league’s assist leader three times. With this kind of support around him, a fourth looks very much in play.
In Other News...
Wizards Just Got A Harsh Reminder Of Anthony Davis Importance
Anthony Davis has already given the Wizards a quick glimpse of why he matters so much to what they are trying to build, flashing scoring, defense and playmaking in the first two preseason games. Washington has also been experimenting with a double-big look that features Davis alongside Deandre Ayton and Alex Sarr, a size-heavy approach that could change the shape of the rotation if it starts to click.
The problem is how thin everything can look when one of those anchors is missing, especially in a roster still working through offensive flow and defensive transition issues. The preseason loss to Brooklyn served as a blunt reminder that the Wizards are still searching for the right balance, and just how much the lineup leans on Davis to steady both ends when the group starts to wobble. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Young Core Is Creating A Real Anthony Davis Trae Young Dilemma
The Wizards have spent the early part of this reset trying to make two timelines work at once. Anthony Davis and Trae Young give the franchise the kind of established star power it has lacked in recent seasons, but the preseason has also offered a look at why Washington is suddenly worth watching beyond the names at the top of the roster. AJ Dybantsa, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr have all flashed enough development to suggest the next version of this team may not look the same for long.
That creates a tricky balancing act for Washington as it tries to climb back into relevance. Veterans can stabilize a team that has struggled, but the young core is pushing for real minutes, real touches and a bigger role in the offense sooner rather than later. The Wizards do not have to choose their long-term answer right away, but the way they sort out that hierarchy in the weeks ahead could shape whether this rebuild feels like a shortcut or a true handoff. [Read more 🡒]
Bilal Coulibaly Just Raised The Stakes For A Wizards Decision
Bilal Coulibalys preseason has turned into one of the more important subplots around the Wizards as the regular season nears. The rookie forward got off to a quiet start in camp, but his third preseason game offered a much better snapshot of why Washington values him, with a 19-point night that also included impact work on the defensive end.
Even with that progress, there is still a contract question hanging over the front office. The Wizards have until Monday, the day before the season opens, to sort out long-term deals with their draft prospects, and Coulibaly is among the names still waiting on a resolution. His recent step forward only makes the decision more interesting, because it adds another layer to what Washington has to weigh before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]