Trae Young to Wizards? Hard Pass

Merlin sees the rumor mill turning: Shams Charania reported mutual interest in a separation between Trae Young and the Hawks, and Marc Stein noted "The [Washington] Wizards have emerged as a legitimate potential trade destination for Atlanta's Trae Young... in a deal construction centered around CJ McCollum's expiring contract." Such a swap would upend Washington’s rebuild by trading cap flexibility and lottery equity for a high-usage star. Merlin remembers how bright offense can blind a roster. Young lifts team scoring to 116.9 points per 100 possessions versus 110.1 without him and averages 25.9 points and 10.5 assists over five years, yet Atlanta concedes 15.0 more points per 100 when he plays. Adding him risks stalling prospects like Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson and shackling future summers when the franchise should chase top draft upside.