In the living rooms of many Atlanta Hawks fans, an iconic image lies framed. Forward John Collins soars into the air, his arm wrapped around Joel Embiid, delivering an excruciating poster dunk.
Collins almost always receives the credit for the dunk, for good reason; it was quite an impressive feat. But forgotten in history is who delivered that lob: none other than guard Trae Young, who now plays for the Washington Wizards.
The four-time All-Star has a history of helping big men succeed.
Clint Capela experienced a career year offensively with Young in 2020-21, and Collins thrived as an explosive finisher next to him. This year’s Wizards may not have the defensive depth of those Hawks teams, but they do have a group of big men headlined by a future Hall of Famer and a rising star.
Working with the most talented group of big men he’s ever played with, Young could truly elevate this team’s ceiling, making for an exhilarating offense.
Anthony Davis offers pick-and-roll potential
It’s been a while since Anthony Davis was fully healthy, as he's played just 71 games over the past two years. That long absence makes it easy to forget how proficient a scorer he can be, even at 33 years old.
With some of the worst shooting numbers of his career in limited action last season, Davis still shot 46.5% from the short mid-range area of the floor and 73% around the rim. Those are impressive numbers while dealing with a serious groin injury.
If Davis can even return partially to form, he immediately becomes the best big man Young has ever worked alongside.
His scoring prowess from the mid-range will fit perfectly in the short roll next to the 2025 NBA assists leader, drawing attention that will allow the latter player to get off his patented floater. Even if his athleticism is limited, he can still serve as a lob threat, just as he did in last year’s limited action.
By pairing with such a versatile scorer, Young will have more opportunities to create efficient shots. His inefficiency on 3-pointers, a common criticism of the star’s game, will change if the attention Davis draws creates open looks for him from beyond.
Lots of questions revolve around the pairing of these two players, given their health and playstyle. But their overall talent has the potential to make them an offensive engine and a spark for Washington.
Alex Sarr’s developmental shooting creates upside
Over the course of his career, Young has played with many types of big men. Never, though, has he worked alongside a true stretch five. Okongwu’s shooting only picked up after Young had been traded, and Collins’ efficiency dipped during his Atlanta tenure.
That’s not to say Alex Sarr is, or will become, a prolific shooter overnight. The Frenchman shot just 33.3% from three-point range last season, below league average.
Nevertheless, Sarr’s efficiency from deep improved by 2.5% compared to his rookie year. If the big man can develop a consistent shot from range, it will open up all kinds of opportunities to work alongside Young. The pick-and-pop actions could be lethal given the rim pressure that the 6-foot-2, 164-pounder provides, creating lots of open looks from three.
There’s still lots of work to do before Sarr is the weapon Washington hopes he can become. Steady growth could make him a key piece on offense, though, working perfectly with its $212 million man.
Even Washington’s depth fits well with Young
Although they don’t have quite the talent of Sarr and Davis, the Wizards' backup bigs should also benefit from Young’s presence.
Deandre Ayton is at his best on dunks and putbacks on offense, allowing him to benefit from the guard’s persistent drives. Plus, small-ball lineups with Khris Middleton and Justin Champagnie promise formidable spacing.
By pairing a skilled group with an experienced creator, there’s a chance for this Washington offense to soar to new heights.
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