Scoopfeeds — Intelligent news, curated.
sports

Sources: Wizards' Young to decline option, be FA

ESPN · Jun 18, 2026, 3:22 AM

Key takeaways

  • Washington Wizards star Trae Young plans to decline his $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season and will become a free agent Monday, sources told Andscape's Marc Spears on Wednesday.
  • Washington remains the front-runner for the four-time All-Star, but multiple teams are expected to have interest, sources said.
  • Young entered last season determined to prove he was worth a four-year, $229 million max extension and was the leader the Atlanta Hawks needed to contend in the East.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

Washington Wizards star Trae Young plans to decline his $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season and will become a free agent Monday, sources told Andscape's Marc Spears on Wednesday.

Washington remains the front-runner for the four-time All-Star, but multiple teams are expected to have interest, sources said.

Young entered last season determined to prove he was worth a four-year, $229 million max extension and was the leader the Atlanta Hawks needed to contend in the East. But he suffered a sprained right MCL in the fifth game of the season in late October and did not return until mid-December.

Article preview — originally published by ESPN. Full story at the source.
Read full story on ESPN → More top stories
Aggregated and edited by the Scoop newsroom. We surface news from ESPN alongside other reporting so you can compare coverage in one place. Editorial policy · Corrections · About Scoop