The Washington Wizards interest in Trae Young has become very real with the team being considered as legitimate contenders to make a blockbuster trade for the former All-Star.
Washington has motivation to get a deal done for several reasons as the team hopes to find an answer at the point guard position that can help the young talent in D.C. finally take a step forward as the rebuild in the DMV continues.
Not to mention, the Wizards hopes to move on from the expiring contract of CJ McCollum, who by all reports seems to be the center point of any package sent over in a deal.
Nonetheless, for a deal to be done, the Wizards would have to include an additional player alongside McCollum to get a deal done.
That said, here's a look at 3 players Washington has to keep at all costs.
3 Players that should be off limits in Wizards-Hawks trade talks
Obviously, Alex Sarr is the lone player that the Wizards must refuse to involve in any deal.
The two-way prospect is emerging into a legit star in Washington and any deal for Young is based on the idea of pairing the big man with an elite passing guard who can help him take the next step in his game.
Sarr will almost certainly be off limits in any deal and I wouldn't expect the Hawks to remotely consider the 7-footer to be a possibility in talks.
In addition to Sarr, rookie Tre Johnson should be removed from any trade talks not only with the Hawks, but any team in the near future.
The first-year guard has shown real flashes of how explosive he can be with the ball in his hand and in a league that's slowly being built around offensive upside, Johnson fits the bill for a cornerstone player, especially in Washington.
Finally, tell me if you've heard this name before...Kyshawn George.
The last player off limits in any deal has to be Kyshawn George, who's shown unreal upside in his increased role as a starter this season.
Head coach Brian Keefe made it a point of emphasis to get the former first-round pick more involved in the offseason and with his versatility to not only defend 1-4, but to serve as a facilitator on offense, mixed with his reliable shooting, George has star potential.
Outside of these three players, Washington could make sense of moving any of the other young prospects.