Trae Young to Wizards, right when I was getting ready for a 2.50 Big Mac

[SkinsNumberOne]

I get the McDonalds updates on my phone but not ESPN - I was noticing there was a growing amount of updates for $2.50 Big Macs in the past week.

Anyway, just my tongue-in-cheek comment to say, a bad season for the young Wizards, and it seemed like they were starting to generate some chemistry, and then they make a huge trade with some of their guys who were a big part of those Ws.

So...

It just seems like it's on-brand for the Wizards. I am not super active on the NBA these days, I have been in the past, but just not right now. So, as far as I know:
- Trae Young is still considered good/great offensively. Mostly great, given he lead the whole NBA in assists, with some caveats.
- He is coming off an injury of concern. Not sure what it means long-term (haven't read much)
- What about fit?
- His defensive skills are considered VERY poor. Like, to the point where they felt very confident they (the Hawks) should get rid of him (supposedly).

I mean, in some ways it sounds like the Doncic trade, but I need to read more or understand the full view here.

Any opinions from people who follow the NBA more closely?

The Brotherhood - it sounded like you followed the NBA more closely, or anyone... just curious. Seems like big news, but obviously the Wizards aren't big movers in the NBA, I assume most people think this is where Trae Young goes to collect a big paycheck.

Oh yeah, as to that: the Wizards FO includes the dude who I think got Trae Young to the Hawks originally. So some of the motivation on Young's side (I have just read this in some places, who knows) may be to get a max contract through the Wizards easily. Meaning, this is a guy who is more likely to give him a big payday.

I don't know how good Young's leadership is, I feel like it is bad, and with a young team like the Wiz? To me, seems like a really bad move. That's my current read overall.

 

[The Brotherhood]

I get the McDonalds updates on my phone but not ESPN - I was noticing there was a growing amount of updates for $2.50 Big Macs in the past week.

Anyway, just my tongue-in-cheek comment to say, a bad season for the young Wizards, and it seemed like they were starting to generate some chemistry, and then they make a huge trade with some of their guys who were a big part of those Ws.

So...

It just seems like it's on-brand for the Wizards. I am not super active on the NBA these days, I have been in the past, but just not right now. So, as far as I know:
- Trae Young is still considered good/great offensively. Mostly great, given he lead the whole NBA in assists, with some caveats.
- He is coming off an injury of concern. Not sure what it means long-term (haven't read much)
- What about fit?
- His defensive skills are considered VERY poor. Like, to the point where they felt very confident they (the Hawks) should get rid of him (supposedly).

I mean, in some ways it sounds like the Doncic trade, but I need to read more or understand the full view here.

Any opinions from people who follow the NBA more closely?

The Brotherhood - it sounded like you followed the NBA more closely, or anyone... just curious. Seems like big news, but obviously the Wizards aren't big movers in the NBA, I assume most people think this is where Trae Young goes to collect a big paycheck.

Oh yeah, as to that: the Wizards FO includes the dude who I think got Trae Young to the Hawks originally. So some of the motivation on Young's side (I have just read this in some places, who knows) may be to get a max contract through the Wizards easily. Meaning, this is a guy who is more likely to give him a big payday.

I don't know how good Young's leadership is, I feel like it is bad, and with a young team like the Wiz? To me, seems like a really bad move. That's my current read overall.

Yeah I think I lean to that read as well SkinsNumberOne - I'd like to be proven wrong though. I have to say I'm not very clued up on this one but just some thoughts on it.

I was interested Trae said "the city can help me as much as I can help it" which made me think a mental refresh held appeal for him. (But the money potential for sure)
He hasn't struck me as a bigtime leader type although he seems to have player respect across the league - maybe the Wiz are hoping to build around him but I was also a bit surprised he opted for Washington - relationships do play a part so it's an interesting point you make about his connection there. It would make more sense to me if they bring in another high talent guy so he's not the sole focus. I felt he had some kind of struggle with that in Atlanta.

Interested in any other intel on this move.....

 

[Slotball]

I’m no basketball genius, but I do follow it, especially the Wizards and Terps.

My thought is that this is not a bad trade for Washington, outside of the cap hit they incur, but they have the room to absorb this without changing the plan much. They gave up essentially nothing to get an electric lead guard…a spot they’ve been trying to fill for the past 2-3 seasons.

The young core of this team stays intact: Sarr, Coulibaly, George, Johnson, Carrington, Riley are all upside players at 22 years old, or younger. While almost all of those guys have good all around floor games, the Wiz have not had that lead guard that put pressure on defenses, and find the open guy consistently. Young is that guy.

Big concern is playing too well, and losing their top 8 protected draft pick, but rumblings are that they plan to sit Young, and make sure he’s fully fit before he hits the court again. That may even mean shutting him down for the season.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Big concern is playing too well, and losing their top 8 protected draft pick, but rumblings are that they plan to sit Young, and make sure he’s fully fit before he hits the court again. That may even mean shutting him down for the season.

Yes I think McCollum and Kispert were leading them to wins and we can't have that, can we?

Tongue-in-cheek but in the world of protected lottery picks, that is what happens to some degree. So then the question is, do they see a real future for Trae here? I think they do, they even have two connections to him in the FO, I think someone from OK where he's from, and the other person who helped draft him in ATL.

I don't know the extent of his injury, but this is a place where he can definitely take his time to get back, since that top-8 pick is important to them.
"Trust the Process"
I guess there is some irony that Harris owns the Commanders here and not the Wizards.

 

[Slotball]

McCollum’s had some big games, but he’s 34, and has no future in DC. Kispert is strictly a 3-point specialist, and is an okay, but far from dynamic player in other aspects of his game. His minutes had been dwindling here when all the other young guys were healthy.

They didn’t get the draft picks they’ve gotten recently for taking on a big contract, but they may just have gotten a rather young (27) dynamic playmaker.