The Washington Wizards shattered the sports world after their blockbuster acquisition of Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks. However, don’t expect to see the four-time NBA All-Star representing the Wizards on the hardwood anytime soon.
2 Reasons Why Newest Wizard May Not See Court This Season
With all the hype surrounding Young’s addition, it’s reasonable to expect he will see the floor at some point during the rest of the season. With that being said, no one should assume that Trae Young will play much, if at all, of the Washington Wizards’ remaining 45 games. While reasons are ample, two stick out as the most obvious.
The Ingram Experiment
Young has only played 10 total games this season due to multiple injuries. With that, the obvious approach for Washington is to slowly work Young back into playing. This would give him plenty of time to build chemistry with the players off the court before getting back on the court.
With over half the season remaining, Washington isn’t in any hurry to rush him back, according to The Athletic. Head Coach Brian Keefe was asked if Young would eventually see the court this season, and Keefe mentioned that getting him healthy is the team’s number one priority. Young also chimed in on his potential return in his opening press conference, stating that he hopes to come back “hopefully soon,” but he’s leaving it up to the front office.
An accurate comparison for Young this season would be Brandon Ingram. Ingram only played 18 games last season before going down with an injury and being traded. The Raptors took serious advantage after bringing him in. The Raptors shut him down last season, despite trading for him at the deadline. He has since returned healthy this season, playing well for Toronto. Toronto currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, and Ingram is having a great individual campaign.
Is this the route Washington is going to take? There’s a possibility. It’s a safe option and could yield significant benefits in the long run.
Young will no doubt provide a lift to the team once he’s fully capable of returning to the court. One small problem: Washington doesn’t want to win, and Young will make winning much easier.
The Tank Effect
The true problem is the Wizards wanting to lose, all in an effort to tank as effectively as possible. Even with their lackluster lottery luck the last few years, you can’t blame them for trying.
The 2026 draft class is even better than the 2025 class, and that’s saying a lot considering 11 rookies are averaging over ten points and over 20 first-year players are averaging more than 15 minutes per contest. The Wizards have one player doing both, Tre Johnson, and could easily add another top-ranked player if their tank continues the way it is. Our draft expert, Benjamin Yu, has predicted that Washington will take Jayden Quaintance from Kentucky in his latest mock draft.
Currently, Washington holds a 10-26 (.278) record, putting them 14th in the Eastern Conference and 27th in the league. This gives the team a 48.1% at a top-four pick, and a 12.5% at the number one pick, according to Tankathon.
The Wizards must finish in the bottom eight of the league to keep their pick. If they rise any higher, the pick will be sent to the New York Knicks. Playing Young could hurt their chances, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The Last Word
The Raptors have shown how effective a player can be when giving them all the time to recover. Washington could potentially follow suit, possibly at the disdain of many fans. Additionally, their draft odds could hinder Young’s chances of getting on the court again this season, regardless of health. Young has left it up to the front office, but that doesn’t mean they will listen to his requests.
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