The first major move of the offseason comes from the discarded Trae Young.

When CJ McCollum kept sinking crucial baskets, standing alone as the sole player to defeat the Knicks twice in postseason play, the most embarrassed individual would be Trae Young. The Hawks dealt Trae Young to the Wizards last season, getting only CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in return. CJ soon showcased his worth in later contests and the playoffs, whereas Trae Young appeared in just one game for Washington before his season ended.

His role on the Hawks was taken over by CJ, and even the nickname "Mayor of New York" that Trae had earned in Atlanta was claimed by CJ. Not long ago, Trae Young said: "This is the most underestimated I've been in my entire career. Imagine if the Wizards become the top team in the East next season—what will people say then?"

Yesterday, CJ signed a three-year, $21 million extension, and today Trae Young also extended his contract with the Wizards, with a price that surprised almost everyone. Washington gave Trae Young a four-year, $212 million extension, averaging over $50 million per year. Though still below the maximum he could have received, it is still an incredibly large contract extension.

If he were at his peak, Trae Young would definitely be worth this deal. But after playing only 15 games last season, averaging 17.9 points and 8 assists with 45.8% shooting from the field and 33.8% from three, is Trae Young worth $50 million? Obviously not.

However, for the Wizards, it seems they had no choice. Similar to the logic behind the Spurs extending De'Aaron Fox, if you trade for a player and don't re-sign him, you essentially lose CJ and Kispert for nothing. Unless Trae Young has become universally disliked, the Wizards were bound to extend him.

Trae Young's team is well aware of this, which is why he opted out of his $49 million salary for next season, boosting his negotiating leverage. I believe Trae Young won't lack suitors; he could easily sign a contract worth $35-40 million per year. The Wizards' offer is certainly an overpay, but I think it's within an acceptable range for Washington.

The Wizards don't expect Trae Young to lead them to immediate glory; returning to the playoffs should be his primary goal over the next few years.

Moreover, many overlook Trae Young's box-office appeal. His offensive talent remains elite, and given the right stage, he can lead a group of young players to play exciting, high-scoring basketball.

The Washington market has lacked a true star for too long. Compared to Anthony Davis, Trae Young is definitely more capable of drawing fans to the arena. Trae's four-year deal breaks down as follows: $49.5 million next season, $51.9 million in 2027-28, $54.5 million in 2028-29, and $56.9 million in 2029-30 (player option). With the ever-increasing salary cap, this contract won't look especially large in the future.

At the same time, with the Wizards locking up Trae Young on a four-year deal, they will likely use the No. 1 pick tomorrow to select Dylan Harper rather than Ace Peterson, since Trae and Peterson are essentially the same type of guard. If the top pick pans out, Trae's four-year big contract will overlap with the rookie's four-year deal, without disrupting Washington's future plans.

The Wizards' current roster now looks quite intimidating: Trae Young, Anthony Davis, (possibly) Dylan Harper, Alex Sarr, along with young players like Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly—a mix of proven talent and potential. However, I believe the Wizards' lineup may still undergo changes next season.

That's because Anthony Davis's camp is not content with the status quo; they also want a substantial early contract extension. Davis currently has about two years and $120 million left on his deal, averaging $60 million per year. The Wizards are almost certainly not going to give him a maximum extension early, so it's possible they could trade him this offseason. It's reportedly that the Trail Blazers are very interested in Davis, where he could finally play the four position full-time.

Trae Young has essentially settled down in Washington, but will Anthony Davis choose to stay or move on? When summer ends, we'll have the answer.