When the Washington Wizards traded for Trae Young in early January, the move raised eyebrows across the league. A rebuilding team acquiring a high-usage All-Star guard usually signals urgency. But what followed, Young not debuting due to injury, may quietly be the smartest outcome possible.
Because right now, Trae Young being sidelined is exactly what the Wizards need.
The Injury Context Matters
Young is dealing with two injuries on the same leg: a Grade 2 MCL sprain and a quadriceps contusion. Individually, both are manageable. Together, they significantly raise re-injury risk. Medical data on lower-body injury combinations shows players miss 25–35 games on average, especially guards reliant on quick change-of-direction.
Young hasn’t played since December 27. His re-evaluation is scheduled for after the All-Star break, and Washington has emphasized caution. Washington is not playing safe, they have other plans…
Trae Young’s Current Impact (When Healthy)
Even limited, Young remains an elite offensive engine:
- 19.3 PPG
- 8.9 APG
- 41.5 FG%
- 57.7 TS%
- 30.2 usage rate
The playmaking is still elite. The efficiency is not. His FG% and TS% are both below career norms, and turnovers (2.6 per game) are elevated. That’s the profile of a star playing compromised, not someone you rush back for meaningless wins.
Why Sitting Trae Helps Washington
The Wizards are 10–28, last in the NBA by net rating (-10.8). They rank:
- 27th in offensive rating
- 30th in defensive rating
- 29th in opponent FG% allowed
Adding a healthy Trae Young might improve their offense by 6–8 points per 100 possessions. But defensively? He historically carries a 118 defensive rating, and Washington already struggles mightily on that end.
Translation: Young might add 4–6 wins at most.
That’s dangerous.
Those extra wins could drop Washington from a top-two lottery position to the fifth-worst record, cutting their top-five pick odds by nearly 20%.
The Draft Is the Real Prize
The 2026 NBA Draft is projected to be one of the deepest in decades. Top prospects project as franchise-level wings and creators, exactly what Washington lacks.
By keeping Young sidelined:
- The Wizards maintain ~65% odds at a top-five pick
- Young prospects like Alex Sarr (17.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG) and Kyshawn George (14.7 PPG) get higher usage
- The team develops without masking flaws behind a star guard
This is controlled losing, not chaos.
The Long-Term Vision
Young is under contract through 2026–27. Washington doesn’t need him now. They need him later, paired with a high-end draft pick and a matured young core.
History supports this approach. Teams that maximized draft position before reintegrating stars, Oklahoma City, Orlando, even Memphis, accelerated rebuilds faster than those chasing marginal wins.
Washington isn’t wasting Trae Young.
They’re protecting the asset, protecting the tank, and protecting the future.
