Rejecting the $48.97 Million Option! Trae Young Plans to Become a Free Agent, Multiple Teams Interested in Signing Him

On June 18, Beijing time, per Spears, Wizards guard Trae Young intends to turn down the $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season, becoming a full free agent next Tuesday. It is reported that the four-time All-Star point guard has a strong affection for the Wizards organization and the city of Washington, making the Wizards the leading candidate to sign him. However, he also expects multiple other teams to offer him maximum-salary contracts.

Previous reports indicated that when the Hawks traded Trae Young to the Wizards in January, almost no team in the league was willing to take him on. However, with the NBA’s new draft lottery rules—which penalize the bottom three teams by significantly reducing their chances of winning the No. 1 pick while leveling the odds among lottery teams—teams in need of a primary playmaker have shown significantly increased interest in acquiring Young.

The Wizards finished with the worst record in the league last season, so retaining Trae Young serves a similar purpose for them. Fisher writes that the eight-year veteran struggled with injuries last season, playing only 15 games combined for the Hawks and Wizards, but he thoroughly enjoyed the warm welcome he received from Washington fans.

Previously, the industry generally estimated that Young’s new contract would be worth around $40 million per year. However, renowned reporter Fisher notes that with multiple teams now expressing interest in trading for him, his market value is approaching a max-level contract. According to the collective bargaining agreement, other teams can offer him a maximum of four years and $212.9 million, while the Wizards, as his current team, can offer a five-year, $287.1 million maximum extension.