What the Wizards Actually Mean About Trae Young Playing Off Ball

When the Washington Wizards acquired Trae Young in January, they made it clear why they made the move.

Lacking a primary playmaker for years, Washington pounced on its opportunity to its solution. President of Monumental Basketball Michael Winger refers to Young as an “offensive engine” that they believe elevates their young players.

After Young opted out of his deal, he agreed to stay in Washington on a four-year, $212 million contract. It’s a large price tag, but one Washington sees as worth the investment.

A day later, the team used its first-overall pick to select AJ Dybantsa, a high-usage wing from BYU. His first impressions in the Summer League showcased heavy on-ball duties. He excelled getting to the rim and free throw line.

Now, with a plethora of capable ball-handlers, what will Young’s usage look like? 

General manager Will Dawkins suggested there will be opportunities for Dybantsa, Kyshawn George, and others to handle the basketball as well. This would mean certain situations could have Young playing off the ball. To some, this sounds alarming, as historically Young has been best with the ball in his hands.

Perhaps that idea is a bit misinterpreted. Young’s playstyle has changed slightly over the last three seasons. In 2023, Young’s usage percentage dipped to 34% from 37%, according to Cleaning The Glass.

It’s not even just about usage. It’s maximizing efficiency as a playmaker with that usage. After only being a 48th percentile assist-to-usage ratio player, that total jumped to the 77th percentile in 2023. 

The higher assist-to-usage ratio continued in 2024, and what was an abbreviated 2025 campaign.

In just five games with the Wizards, his usage was only 29%, which would be a career-low if that sustained an entire season. Five games isn’t enough to make any conclusions on those totals, but in that span, his assist percentage rose to an NBA-best 52.5. His assist-to-usage ratio was 1.81, good for the 96th percentile, according to Cleaning The Glass.

In short, his role in this league has been changing, and he’s becoming a more efficient player because of it. There should be plenty of opportunities for Washington’s young talent to continue expanding their skills handling the ball.

Young was brought here and paid to run Washington’s offense. Dawkins reiterates the idea that Young can impose a less ball-dominant playstyle and increase his impact as a true playmaker.

With Dybantsa in the fold, it will be interesting to see how he develops his game off the basketball where he was featured in Summer League in spurts. In his lone college season, he was asked to carry a lot of offensive weight, especially after a season-ending injury to BYU guard Richie Saunders. 

Dawkins has referred to Dybantsa as a “guard” multiple times, so it’s reasonable to assume he should have plenty of on-ball responsibilities in some capacity. It’s also important he develops in other areas, including his catch-and-shoot jumpshot, which he struggled with in college.

Young’s gravity should allow for plenty of open looks for players like Dybantsa, George, Tre Johnson, etc. As the Wizards aim to compete more in 2026, it appears they still want plenty of opportunities for their young players to develop and expand their versatility. 

An “off-ball” Young doesn’t mean he’ll sit in the corner all possession. It’s more about allowing the Wizards to develop more and more offensive creators.