The Washington Wizards signed Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million contract in free agency. ## What happened?
Trae Young played just five games for the Washington Wizards after being acquired by the team in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks prior to the deadline. But that was enough for the Wizards to reward Young with a massive contract. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report labeled Young's contract with Washington as the worst overpay of the entire offseason in the NBA.
Why it matters for Washington Wizards
Young is still a productive player, but the deal has the potential to age poorly. The Wizards could have major regrets, especially when extension talks start happening with their young core. Last result: Cleveland Cavaliers 130-117 Washington Wizards (2026-04-12). Recent form: | Date | Result | | --- | --- | | 2026-04-12 | Cleveland Cavaliers 130-117 Washington Wizards | | | 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first) |
What comes next?
The view of Young around the league is pretty low at this point. He was recently voted as the second-most overrated player in the entire NBA by his peers. Houston Rockets star center Alperen Sengun was the only player viewed as more overrated by other players. Young was also voted as the league's most overrated player in the very same poll back in 2023. And the Wizards could struggle to build the team out around AJ Dybantsa, their No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, with Young's enormous contract proving prohibitive.