After playing just five games in 2025-26, new Washington Wizards guard Trae Young opens up on his offseason plans and whether the team can return to a playoff contender in 2026-27
With the Washington Wizards heading into arguably the most pivotal offseason over the last five years, Trae Young had a simple message for his teammates: "I tell them not to get used to this."
The Wizards put the bow on another losing season after suffering a road loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, cementing a third consecutive season with Washington failing to win 20 games. Yet Washington enters the offseason with a chance to drastically alter their outlook, and Young is a big piece of that.
The upcoming top five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft adds fuel to the fire that the Wizards will have enough pieces to at least make noise in the Eastern Conference playoff race in 2026-27, but taking that jump from one of the league's worst to playoff contender within a four month span is also easier said than done.
After general manager Will Dawkins previously noted that the Wizards put an emphasis on developing the roster into professionals to begin creating those habits during the 2025-26 season, Young pointed to those daily habits "that we brought every day, starting with [Brian Keefe] and the coaching staff."
"it's all about how you go about it, and if you're going to be the ones that do it and make the sacrifices of putting the team over yourself, especially being a young team," Young added. "That's why most young teams aren't aren't very successful, because you're very focused on yourself and individually and getting to that next step in your own development that you kind of lose track of the team success."
Still, the Wizards will have to wait nearly 170 days before they can make those playoff aspirations a reality as Young and the team look to enjoy the beginning of the offseason before diving into the development plan. Young said he will return to both Oklahoma and Los Angeles for his offseason training.
"You'll see me out there so playing in runs and my guys will be with me," Young added.
Of course, the other question this offseason is what the long-term plan between Young and the Wizards materializes into. June 23 marks the final day that Young can opt into his near $49 million player option or become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, though the expectation since Young arrived in DC has been the two sides will explore a long-term resolution.
"For me, it's just the start of something special. And for me, I'm just happy that I'm here right now," Young said.