The Washington Wizards are playing the long game-and they’re making no secret of it. In a recent interview, general manager Will Dawkins laid out the team’s thinking on a number of fronts, from Trae Young’s injury status to the development of their young core, and what the future might realistically look like in D.C.
Let’s start with the headline: Trae Young won’t be back until after the All-Star break. That’s the current plan, according to Dawkins, who clarified that while Young is staying sidelined for now, the team isn’t shutting him down for the season. Quite the opposite-they’re eager to get him back on the floor to see how he fits alongside the Wizards’ young talent.
“It’s important because Trae has a decision to make,” Dawkins said. “He’s got the power of choice as a free agent.”
That decision? Whether or not to pick up his nearly $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
Given that Young has only suited up for 10 games this year due to injuries, opting in might seem like the obvious move. But if he gets healthy and finishes the season strong, it’s not out of the question that he tests the market or seeks a new deal.
That’s why the Wizards want to see him in action with players like Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly. It’s not just about evaluating fit-it’s about giving Young a reason to believe in the long-term vision. “You want to make sure that he’s comfortable playing with the young guys,” Dawkins added, “to have the opportunity to play with Alex and to play with Bilal and see when they move and how they fit positionally.”
Even if Young picks up his option, he’ll still be eligible for an extension. And while Dawkins said the team hasn’t started formal negotiations, the lines of communication are open.
“We’ve had communication on what it would look like to be a Wizard because he really wanted to be here,” Dawkins said. “We want to make sure everybody feels comfortable and builds that partnership and relationship until we have any real conversations.”
So what would that partnership look like on the floor? According to Dawkins, it starts with defense-and that’s where Sarr and Coulibaly come in.
He sees both as potential high-level defenders, not just in isolation but within a team concept. “They can have a huge impact individually with shutting their man down and making life difficult,” he said.
“But they’re also smart players who can read the game and can play in a defensive system as well.”
It’s the kind of defensive versatility-length, size, switchability-that modern NBA teams covet. And the Wizards believe they’ve got the raw materials to build something special.
“They’re always getting bigger, getting better, and getting stronger,” Dawkins said. “So you can imagine what they look like two, three, four, or five years from now in their prime.”
Sarr, in particular, is already turning heads. Dawkins pointed to his shot-blocking, rim protection, and improved offensive presence as signs that the rookie is ahead of schedule.
“He’s protecting the paint. He’s living at the rim on both ends,” Dawkins said.
“He’s guarding the most shots at the rim, but he’s also blocking the most shots. He’s putting a fear on players.”
Offensively, Sarr’s evolving too-finishing through contact with both hands, rolling to the rim, and getting to the free throw line with more consistency. It’s the kind of two-way growth that makes you wonder if he might be in the All-Star conversation sooner than expected.
Dawkins didn’t shy away from that idea. “When you put him statistically with most centers in the league, especially the centers in the East, if you put a blindfold on it and didn’t have the picture and the name, I think his stats would speak volumes.”
And it’s not just Sarr and Coulibaly getting the development spotlight. Cam Whitmore is another name to watch.
Earlier this season, head coach Brian Keefe had a candid conversation with Whitmore about what kind of player he wants to be-and what kind of career he wants to have. “Let’s work on the habits that those players have and basically emulate how they’re playing,” Dawkins said.
“I think he bought in, and I’m looking forward toward getting him healthy and back on the floor.”
As for the big-picture outlook, Dawkins kept expectations in check. Don’t expect the Wizards to start talking playoffs just yet-not even for next season.
“Next season, I wouldn’t put the ‘playoff’ word out there,” he said. “We want to get incrementally better every day.”
That’s the theme here: patience with purpose. The Wizards aren’t rushing the rebuild, but they’re also not putting a ceiling on their young players.
“We won’t hold them back,” Dawkins said. “We’ll let them compete and get after it.
But I don’t think we’re at the point where we’re ready to push the button, rev the engine, and say it’s a ‘full go.’”
For now, it’s about development, evaluation, and laying the groundwork for what comes next. And if that includes a healthy Trae Young leading a young, hungry core, the Wizards might just be building something worth watching.