The Washington Wizards have made it crystal clear about their pursuit to finally find a long-term answer for the glaring hole in the backcourt.
Washington has been searching for a point guard that can serve as a true facilitator and command enough attention offensively that can open up the games of other prospects like Alex Sarr or Kyshawn George.
The Wizards hoped that second-year man Bub Carrington could be that player this season in an increased role following the departure of Jordan Poole this offseason.
And while Carrington's shown flashes throughout his inconsistent start to the year, he's done more to show that he may not be the solution for the team's biggest weakness after all.
As a result, Washington often hear's their name linked to nearly every point guard that becomes available on the trade market, especially when the rumors surround stars that could be on the move.
The early rumblings of potential fresh starts for LaMelo Ball and Darius Garland quickly pinned the Wizards as suitors and with the recent rumors about the Atlanta Hawks motive to move on from All-Star guard Trae Young ahead of the NBA trade deadline in February, Washington once again finds themselves listed as a suitor.
Despite that, this opened door is one the Wizards must resist walking through for obvious reasons.
Wizards must avoid a Trae Young trade
Since the rebuild in Washington began, the Wizards have made it a point of emphasis to prioritize size and defensive versatility in nearly every position on the team.
Defensive-minded two-way players have become the new winning formula across the NBA and head coach Brian Keefe and the Wizards have made it evident that this build is the blueprint they've elected to follow.
Sure, a trade for Young would provide them one of the best passing guard's in the game with scoring upside, but it would also give them a defensive liability on the court, who's undersized frame goes against everything Washington has attempted to build towards.
Young's defensive shortcomings is part of the reason why Atlanta has failed to build a contending squad in the East and why the Hawks seem content on making emerging star Jalen Johnson the center piece of their squad moving forward.
Acquiring a talent like Young would answer one question for the Wizards, but his arrival would also create more questions that would immediately need addressed before Washington returned to contention in the East.