Analyzing the Washington Wizards Long-term Future Following the Trae Young Trade

The first big trade of the 2025-26 NBA season took place yesterday evening as the Atlanta Hawks traded All-Star point guard and franchise cornerstone Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Many questions remain following the trade regarding both the short-term and long-term effects this move will have on the Wizards’ future success. Here’s where the Wizards’ outlook stands with Young now suiting up for them.

Washington Wizards Cap Space Remains Optimal for Future Player Additions

Before the blockbuster Trae Young trade took place, there weren’t many suitors willing to take on his current contract. Young had signed a 5-year, $215.2 million max extension back in 2021 with a salary of approximately $46.4 million to be paid this season.

Thankfully for the Washington Wizards, they have ample cap space to absorb Young’s contract and acquire more pieces through trade or free agency. Washington is currently projected to have an NBA-best $80.9 million next offseason. That level of cap space also plays a key role in the next part of the Wizards future plans.

Washington Wizards Draft Pick Stockpile Remains Plentiful

It’s no secret that the most valuable commodity in the NBA today is the amount of draft picks a team possesses, and the Washington Wizards are one of the most draft capital-rich teams in the league right now. The biggest upside in the Wizards’ trade for Young was the team not having to give up any picks in the process.

While having a lot of cap space can help in acquiring talent outside of just the NBA draft, the amount of draft picks a team owns can also help in that department. Whether or not the Wizards decide to start using their draft picks in potential trades to help stack the roster with more All-Star-level talent, they more than have enough picks to help offset any severe consequences to their future should that approach fail.

The Development of the Young Players Under Head Coach Brian Keefe

This is where things get a bit murky about the Washington Wizards’ future with Trae Young onboard, as the Wizards have built out their coaching staff that centers more around development than contending at the moment.

Current Wizards head coach Brian Keefe has been widely seen as a placeholder coach of sorts since taking over in Washington back in 2024. Keefe’s main goal during his tenure with the Wizards has been to develop the young talent on the roster, as Keefe was an instrumental figure with the Thunder from 2007 to 2014 in developing Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook.

The trade for Trae Young slightly changes the Wizards’ approach in the rebuild process, which leaves in question the job security of Brian Keefe and the potential impact on the development of the younger players on the roster. If Young decides to waive his player option at the end of next season, with Keefe having been ousted in the process to make way for a bigger name at head coach this offseason, the already long rebuild may return for an even longer stay the next time around for Washington.

Washington Wizards Retention of Current Players

The final and most positive sign of a potentially good long-term future in Washington is the fact that a fair chunk of key players on the current roster will be around for a few more years. Those players include rising stars like Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson, and bench players like Cam Whitmore and Marvin Bagley III.

All of those players, aside from Bagley III, are currently under cheap rookie deals, which helps them both compete on the court talent-wise and off the court financially speaking. If Young can come in and help supercharge the development process while the Wizards’ front office keeps their current core as well, the good times may be back for a long time in D.C.

Conclusion

The overall long-term future for the Wizards is both flexible and solid. The ample cap space, huge war chest of draft picks, and current core provide many different avenues for Washington to succeed, regardless of whether the Trae Young trade pans out or not.