Is Wizards PG Trae Young's New Contract Among the Worst in NBA?

If there was a period when the Washington Wizards drew criticism off the court over the last six months, it may have been when an extension with veteran point guard Trae Young materialized just days into the official start of free agency.

After paying a low cost ahead of the 2025-26 trade deadline to acquire a four-time All Star that upgrades the point guard rotation, a rule shift across the league would shift the expected market for Trae Young ahead of free agency -- and when it came time to finalize a contract extension with the Wizards.

The two sides always remained clear that an extension was the most likely outcome as Young reportedly prioritized landing with a team where that was a likely possibility. Yet the initial projections of a three year deal worth $120 million proved to be way off from what materialized after the two sides announced a four year deal worth $212 million including a player option on the final year.

That led the Wizards to land on a list they've found themselves on during the previous front office after Young's new contract was tabbed the second-worst in the NBA behind Philadelphia center Joel Embiid. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports pointed to Young's skillset fading away from the NBA trend given the pick-and-roll offense has become less of a staple, though with the Wizards adding the personnel for double big lineups, head coach Brian Keefe and the front office may have other ideas.

Quinn highlighted Young's inefficiencies with his turnover numbers and limitations off the ball as reason for pessimism, but for a Wizards' front office that remains financially well positioned over the next two seasons, Young's contract reinforces the commitment to becoming a consistently competitive team.

Young wasn't the only Wizard to land on the list, but this was not because of the current front office.

The three year, $175 million contract that Davis remains ranked as the 11th worst contract across the NBA, yet whether that remains his current contract -- and for how long -- will be another question. After watching his extension window officially begin on Aug. 6, the expectation is the Wizards entertain contract negotiations with Davis during the upcoming 2026-27 season with a chance for him to enter year one with the franchise motivated. And after missing over 75% of games since being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis will have a chance to live up to what could be his final payday in the NBA.