Trae Young Signs New Deal, Ranked Second-Worst NBA Contract

Trae Young sealed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Washington Wizards on 18 Jul 2026, and analysts have already labeled it the league’s second-worst deal, trailing only Joel Embiid’s pact with Philadelphia.

Why did experts rank the contract so low?

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report placed Young’s deal at No. 2 in his list of the eight worst NBA contracts. Favale argued the Wizards handed Young a max-type extension that he could have secured in free agency, turning a salary-dump trade into a costly commitment. He noted Young’s offensive upside but warned that defensive limitations and a lack of physicality could make the contract a liability as the years progress.

How did Young perform after the trade?

Young appeared in just five games for Washington after the January trade, posting 15.2 points, 6.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per contest. Those numbers, while respectable, did not silence critics who see the deal as an overpay. The small sample size leaves many questions about whether his production will justify the hefty salary over the next four seasons.

What do other analysts say?

Zach Buckley, also of Bleacher Report, called the extension the worst overpay of the offseason. He recalled the Wizards acquiring Young for the modest price of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, a move that seemed shrewd at the time. Buckley warned that the discount has vanished, and the team may regret the commitment when renegotiations arise.

What does this mean for the Wizards’ future?

The contract ties Young to a franchise that hopes his offensive engine can lift a young core. Yet the criticism suggests the Wizards could face cap-space challenges if Young’s defensive growth stalls. Fans will watch closely as the team balances his scoring talent against the financial risk embedded in the deal.

What’s next for Trae Young?

With the contract now official, Young has a clear incentive to prove his worth. The upcoming season will test whether his play can shift the narrative from overpay to value. Every assist, three-pointer, and defensive stop will be measured against the $212 million price tag, shaping both his legacy and the Wizards’ strategic direction.