The Wizards spent part of this week giving their fans a reason to believe again, but a move made one day before the celebration threatens to undercut all of it.
Washington’s selection of BYU wing A.J Dybansta on Tuesday night brought a surge of optimism after one of the worst seasons in NBA history. Dybansta has the kind of upside that can change the mood around a lost franchise in a hurry. But that feel-good moment came with a catch: the team had already committed to Trae Young in a big way.
The Wizards signed Young to a four-year, $212 million contract extension, tying him to the roster for the next four seasons. The decision to re-sign him was widely expected, especially after Washington gave up a first-round pick to get him in the first place. Even so, the price tag left plenty of people wondering why the team went that far.
The issue isn’t just the money. It’s what Young’s presence means for everyone else.
When Washington brought him in back in January, the idea was straightforward enough: Young would ease the burden on Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington and help speed along their development. That part worked, at least in the short term. In the five games he started, the offense looked cleaner and more organized, with a proven half-court playmaker steering things.
But a long commitment changes the equation. With Young starting, Carrington and Johnson are unlikely to get full control of the offense. His heliocentric style leaves little room for others to grow into primary creators, which means the two young guards could spend the next four years functioning more as off-ball scorers than as the kind of players Washington drafted them to become.
There is at least a path where it works. If Young becomes more willing and effective without the ball, the fit could improve.
But his eight-year track record doesn’t offer much encouragement there. His 3-point shooting has dipped in recent seasons, particularly on catch-and-shoot looks, and his effort as a cutter has faded.
The more immediate concern is the contract itself. Young will make $47 million next season, then $51 million in 2027-28 and $54 million in 2028-29, before a $58 million player option in 2030. Right now, Washington doesn’t have other long-term money clogging the books, so the deal is manageable on paper.
That won’t stay true forever.
Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George are set for extensions next summer, and more young players will be in line not long after that. By locking into Young at this number, Washington has made it much harder to keep the rest of its core together down the road.
Maybe Young levels up in 2026 and turns the whole thing into a worthwhile gamble. But for now, the contract looks like a long-term weight on a team that was finally starting to feel hope again.
In Other News...
Wizards GM Sees Something Fans Have Been Begging For In New Big
The Wizards added another young big on draft night, using a second-round move to land Felix Okpara and give their frontcourt a different kind of option behind the starters. The 6-foot-11 center from Tennessee profiles as a simple, useful piece right away, the sort of rim-running, lob-catching, paint-protecting presence teams always seem to say they need and fans have spent plenty of time asking for.
For Washington, the pick was about more than just size. General manager Will Dawkins pointed to the traits the organization keeps emphasizing in its rebuild, saying Okpara fits the culture as much as the roster, with humility, teamwork, work ethic, togetherness and passion all part of the appeal. If the on-court role is straightforward, the longer-term interest is whether the Wizards have found a big who checks the boxes they value most while also filling one of the clearer holes on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Suddenly Dragged Into A Massive Warriors Power Play
The Wizards have suddenly found themselves tied to a far bigger chase than anything on their own docket, with Golden State looking at Anthony Davis as part of a push to reshape its roster for the summer. Davis has not played a game for Washington since coming over because of a hand injury, which has only added to the uncertainty around a player who was producing at a high level before the deal that brought him there.
For the Wizards, the intrigue is less about the Warriors' ambitions than what comes back in any package built around Davis. The reported framework includes Jimmy Butler and draft compensation, a kind of return that would instantly change the conversation in Washington even as the broader plot stays focused on how far Golden State is willing to go to land its next star piece. [Read more 🡒]
AJ Dybantsa Just Set A Massive Year One Standard In Washington
AJ Dybantsa is not easing into his first year in Washington with small talk about learning curves and adjusted expectations. The Wizards rookie has already put a big target on the season, framing his rookie campaign around helping the team get to the playoffs while keeping an eye on something much bigger down the road. That kind of confidence fits a roster that is trying to grow up fast, with Trae Young back in the fold and a young core that also includes Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George.
Dybantsa did not ignore the individual side of the conversation, either, but he made it clear where his priorities sit. He wants Rookie of the Year, sure, but only after team success comes first, which is usually the sort of answer that resonates in a locker room trying to build real habits instead of chasing headlines. For a Washington team with legitimate talent and plenty of ambition, the interesting part now is whether that standard is simply a statement of confidence or the start of a much bigger rise. [Read more 🡒]