Trae Young was traded to the Washington Wizards on Jan. 7. It was a trade that everyone had seen coming. Both the Young and the Atlanta Hawks expressed their desire to part ways with each other. In return, the Hawks received veteran guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert from the Wizards.
The Hawks have been looking to rebuild around a new young core, while Young has been looking forward to a new chapter in his career. However, it’s worth noting that when the star guard was traded, he was still dealing with an injury. The question now is, when will Young make his debut in Washington?
Trae Young Injury Report
Back on Dec. 29, Young suffered from a right quad contusion. This is his second injury of the season. Earlier this season, the four-time All-Star also suffered from a Grade 2 sprained MCL in his right knee. This forced him to miss 22 games before returning on Dec. 18.
Given all these factors, the Wizards might be cautious when deciding to play Young for the remainder of the season. According to NBA insider Michael Sotto, Young’s right quad contusion will be re-evaluated once he joins the Wizards roster.
“Trae Young will be evaluated after joining the Wizards,” Sotto reported. “Washington will cautiously proceed with Young after his previous MCL & current quad injuries. Washington has the fourth-worst record, which would guarantee retaining their top-eight protected pick if they hold this standing.”
Based on Sotto’s assessment of the Wizards’ standing in the Eastern Conference, other reports suggest that there’s a chance Young might not play at all for the remainder of the year. This is to maintain their potential lottery pick for the 2026 NBA Draft.
This strategy is also aimed at preserving Young’s health heading into the 2026-27 season. Looking at the star guard’s contract, he’ll only have one year remaining with the Wizards if he ends up playing next year. Only then will both parties figure out if they want to extend they’re partnership together.
It’s also worth noting that if Young ends up skipping the majority, if not the entire remainder of the season, he will fall below the 65-game threshold required for season-ending awards, such as All-NBA selections. Young might also not be eligible to become an All-Star this season.
For now, all we can do is wait for any official announcements from the Wizards. We’re likely to find out Young’s status by next week, once the trade process has fully settled.
