The Washington Wizards traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis to get back into contention, and that means significantly improving the NBA’s worst defense from last season. Young is an undersized guard who struggles on that end of the floor, and he isn’t hiding from that.
The four-time All-Star is embracing his weakness and making an effort to improve.
“Defense is about effort and energy. Obviously, you’ve got to have the physical tool, too. I am one of the guys that standout as not being one of the 6’6, 6’7, 6’9 guys, but I am still able to play in this league because I do something special that a lot of guys can’t on the other end. I am probably going to be the weak link on our team defensively, but I can still give a lot of effort and be there to help my guys. Not just let my guys go to the basket…I know I got a lot of rim protectors and help behind me now, so that is going to make my job easier to be out there and give effort.”
Young has carried a massive offensive workload in the past, which has made going all-out on defense nearly impossible. The 6’2 guard has drawn plenty of scorn for his shortcomings, but the quote coupled with Washington’s other creators should allow Young to be better.
The Wizards don’t need Young to be a lockdown option. They just need him to compete. He can be below average as long as the effort is there. Young said all the right things, but Washington needs to see improvement.
Trae Young has a history of defensive problems
Young was one of the NBA’s worst defenders early in his career. He had a negative-2.4 or worse D-LeBron in each of his first three seasons. The four-time All-Star is still bad, but has improved. He had a career-high negative-1.3 in the 2025-26 campaign. There was more effort and intensity on defense.
It is a similar story with defensive box plus-minus. Young’s negative-1.4 was his best mark in eight NBA seasons.
There is only so much an undersized, skinny guard can do. Teams are going to hunt Young. They will force switches and involve him in actions. The four-time All-Star isn’t hiding from that. He is embracing the challenge and plans to do whatever is possible to funnel his man to the rim protectors.
Wizards have personnel to cover for Trae Young’s mistakes
There were plenty of questions about trading for Young and AD. They got a bit louder when the star guard got a four-year, $212.8 million extension this summer. Trae’s team has missed the playoffs three straight years and hasn’t won a playoff series since reaching the conference finals in 2021.
The Wizards believe they can make it work with Young because they have Davis, Alex Sarr, and Deandre Ayton on their roster. AD has made five All-Defensive teams, including three first-team honors. The 33-year-old may be declining, but he is one of the best big man defenders of this generation. Sarr averaged 2.0 blocks per game in his second NBA season and has significant defensive upside. Ayton is another seven-footer who hopes to become the best backup big man in the league. That likely means locking in more on defense.
Washington has size on the wings, and knows they must cover for Young. The personnel around Young gave the Wizards confidence to reward him with a massive extension. Ice Trae still needs to play his part.
Trae Young must be locked in for the Wizards to get into contention
The Hawks were bounced in the Play-In Tournament in 2024 and 2025 by being outscored in Young’s minutes on the floor. His defense was an issue, but Atlanta didn’t have AD or Sarr on the backline. If Trae is competing, the Wizards could hold their own.
Young said all the right things, but talk is cheap. He needs to actually lock in and compete on both ends of the floor every night. That is easier said than done. The 28-year-old is in his prime and one of the stars of this team. The Wizards need him to participate in the defensive scheme and give his max effort. It may not always be pretty, but Washington needs him to have the desire to.
The Washington Wizards plan on shocking the world this season. Trae Young is a key part of that. He can’t be one of the worst defenders in the league if the Wizards are going to get back into contention. The four-time All-Star knows that.
He is embracing his shortcomings and looking for help to improve. That is exactly what the Wizards need to give him. If the defense comes together, Washington could surprise. They have plenty of talent and are saying all the right things. Do not rule it out.
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