Of the decisions the Washington Wizards have to make this offseason, extending Trae Young seems to be at the top of the to-do list for general manager Will Dawkins.
Acquiring the All-Star guard ahead of the trade deadline came with the expectation that inking the playmaker to a long-term deal to keep him in D.C. for the foreseeable future, which many labeled as a mistake for the rebuilding Wizards, considering the financial commitment could bring some financial restriction that limits their roster construction moving forward.
Nonetheless, based on the projected extension from NBA Insider Marc Stein, Young could be set to not only save the Wizards money but also give them more flexibility than expected moving forward.
Marc Stein projects Trae Young to sign three-year, $120 million extension
In Stein's latest report on his insider substack, it was revealed that the early projection for Young's new contract is expected to fall around $120 million over the next three seasons.
To save some time for Wizards' fans, that would place the star guard in the $40 million annual salary range, which, considering he's eligible for a three-year, $160 million deal, is a major discount for the Wizards.
Signing Young to a $40 million salary in comparison to the $53 million per year he's eligible for is a major win for the Wizards, not only because they gain more flexibility by signing the former top-five pick to a team-friendly deal, but because they put doubt to rest that his projected deal would disrupt their chances to make aggressive moves in the future.
Wizards set up to still make aggressive moves
Washington is on the rise, and if they do indeed stand pat at No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, all signs point to the team landing top prospect AJ Dybantsa to build their roster around moving forward.
Obviously, the future of Anthony Davis is still in question, but assuming that the future of the Wizards is focused on Young, Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, and several other young talents on the roster, the team will still have the flexibility to make aggressive moves if the opportunity presents itself.
The Wizards front office still has to secure Young's signature for Stein's projection to be deemed true, and he has until June 23 to activate or bypass his player option with the team.
Nonetheless, all signs point to Washington managing to secure an All-Star for their long-term plans while saving much-needed money for future moves.
From where things stand today, though, the projection from Stein suggests the Wizards' deadline decision won't risk their chance to make long-term moves, and if anything, having an All-Star on the roster alongside the young core will only help lead to bigger moves in the future.
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