Wizards Handing Trae Young 4-Year, $212 Million Contract Leaves Fans Baffled – “Holy Overpay”

Trae Young had declined his $49 million option with the view to earn a long-term deal with the Washington Wizards.

Wizards Handing Trae Young 4-Year, $212 Million Contract Leaves Fans Baffled – “Holy Overpay”

Trae Young gets contract extension (Image via FirstSports)

When the Washington Wizards traded with the Atlanta Hawks for Trae Young, basketball fans felt that he would get the chance to shine in a new environment.

The point guard has generally been the reason for the Hawks’ success. But of late, they have pivoted to a different style of play involving players they either drafted or acquired through trades.

Now with the Wizards, the 27-year-old will get another opportunity to prove his worth. The franchise is getting a version that is no longer a defensive liability, as he was during his first few years with the Hawks.

On top of that, when they traded for Anthony Davis, they essentially paired the best one-two pick-and-roll duo on paper. Many analysts and former players pointed out that the combination will make the Wizards playoff contenders next season.

Sure, the aspect of health will play a big part. But it seems the organization shares the same belief, as was evident when they handed an extension to their star playmaker.

Trae Young intends to sign a four-year, approximately $212 million deal to stay with the Washington Wizards, with a player option in Year 4, sources tell ESPN. The four-time NBA All-Star declined his $49M player option for a long-term commitment ahead of free agency.

Shams Charania wrote on X

This means Trae Young‘s new salary will be $53 million on average, which is on par with some of the best in the league. Sure, other players get paid a lot more, but once this deal was announced, it led to doubts.

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Fans shake their heads after Wizards hand Trae Young rich contract

Basketball fans know that Trae Young is one of the better players in the league. But they are not sure whether he is worth paying $53 million a year.

Fans are aware that when focused, the Oklahoma guard can embarrass other teams, as he is known to do to the New York Knicks. But consistent performances are not what he is known for.

They felt that the salary should generally be reserved for someone who can stay healthy and produce exceptional performances night in and night out. Fans pointed to his recent injuries and inconsistency to question whether the Wizards overpaid. Examples of those reactions are below.

The Trae Young trade and the extension will probably end up being a good decision for the Washington Wizards. They have built a good team that could contend when healthy. But now, they have a chance to add more in the draft.

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Wizards not willing to give up No. 1 overall pick

When the Washington Wizards head into training camp, Anthony Davis and Trae Young will be their leading veteran players. That is because the rest of the squad is mostly made up of young talent.

Wizards are now Trae Young and Anthony Davis' team
Wizards are now Trae Young and Anthony Davis’ team (Image via DraftKings Network/X)

Cam Whitmore, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, Will Riley, and Julian Reese are all 22 or younger. The latter was a surprise playing on a two-way contract.

If they can learn and adapt to the tone set by the two vets, the franchise could become a favorite to enter the playoffs. On top of that, the Wizards have one more ace up their sleeve.

So far, they are still holding on to the No. 1 overall pick. They also have the 51st and 60th picks, which means they have the trade assets to land another superstar if they want.

However, with a generational talent in AJ Dybansta available, it is unlikely that the franchise will want to purge their salary flexibility to bring in one more overpriced veteran.

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