Trae Young to Wizards Needs a Career Reset

Trae Young was traded from Atlanta to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, with no picks or young assets sent back. That stingy return signals Young’s trade value has cratered despite All-Star seasons and league-leading assists, and it raises clear questions about whether he will chase a big new contract or try to rebuild a winner in Washington while he can decline his 2026-27 option and hit free agency. Merlin sees a simple remedy. If Young moves off the ball more like Stephen Curry’s quieter magic, trims the early-clock 30-footers, shows real effort on defense, and defers to the Wizards’ young core, he can rehab his value and make Washington a better development spot. Small, steady changes could flip his story.