Trae Young has averaged at least 24 points and 10 assists per game in three of his eight NBA seasons. Brian Fluharty / Imagn ImagesJune 18, 2026 Updated 10:17 am EDTIn an expected move that will make him an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Washington Wizards point guard Trae Young has chosen to decline his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, a league source said.But that doesn’t necessarily mean Young is going to agree to a deal elsewhere, because the Wizards have the clear inside edge to retain Young after trading for him in January.Rival teams will have the opportunity to offer Young a maximum first-year starting salary of 30 percent of the 2026-27 salary cap, worth approximately $49.8 million. As a non-Bird rights free agent, Young, who will turn 28 in September, could receive up to a four-year deal with 5 percent annual raises from a new team.
Washington holds Young’s Bird rights. Although Young’s first-year maximum salary in a new deal with the Wizards could begin at no greater than 30 percent of the cap (the same maximum-salary figure a rival team could offer), the Wizards could offer Young up to a new five-year deal with as large as eight percent annual raises.In January, the Wizards traded CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks for Young, who wound up playing only five games for Washington as the team sought to maximize its odds for the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, a decision that paid off considering that Washington won the lottery and now holds the No. 1 pick in next week’s draft.Wizards officials regard him as an important part of their near future because of his ability to run an offense, pressure opposing defenses and create open shots for teammates. Young averaged at least 24 points and 10 assists per game in three of his eight NBA seasons.Young’s decision to decline his player option was first reported by ESPN.Jun 18, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
