Seven Months Ago, Nobody Wanted Trae Young. Now He Has $212 Million and It's Baffling the League.

Okay, Emerald City, you are NOT going to believe the news that dropped from the NBA world this week. While everyone was waiting for Giannis trade rumors to blow up, the Washington Wizards went absolutely wild, signing four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young to a four-year deal worth approximately $212 million. Seriously, read that again: TWO HUNDRED AND TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS. This is just shy of a max deal, averaging a cool $53 million a year, and if your jaw isn't on the floor, you weren't paying attention just a few months ago.

Are They SERIOUS With This Money?!

Let's put this into perspective, because this deal is, on paper, bordering on an act of lunacy. Seven months ago, the Atlanta Hawks basically salary dumped Trae Young. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, was interested in giving up anything of real value in a trade for him. He was a player teams were actively avoiding taking on! And now, the Wizards are dropping $53 million per year on him? You know who makes $39 million a year? Jalen Brunson, the guy who just won NBA Finals MVP. Think about that for a second. The Wizards are paying Young $14 million MORE per year than the freaking Finals MVP. What in the actual hell are they thinking? The Athletic reported that Wizards decision-makers became convinced other teams would offer Young maximum-salary deals due to new anti-tanking measures. Honestly, that's hard to believe.

De'Aaron Fox

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

Was Bad. This Is WORSE. For months now, folks have been calling De'Aaron Fox's four-year, $229 million contract, which starts this season, one of the worst values in the league, especially with Dylan Harper's nuclear ascension. Well, hold my beer, because this Trae Young deal is way worse on paper. Seriously. At least Fox's deal isn't "that bad" for the Spurs right now, given their three best players are still on rookie contracts. In a vacuum, Young's contract is a wild overpay, and there is absolutely nothing to suggest he is worth this kind of money. Small, defensively challenged guards like Young were a rapidly depreciating player archetype in the league. Remember, nobody wanted Young, and the Bucks are literally paying Damian Lillard $113 million to play for someone else! Sure, Brunson making Becky Hammon and Draymond Green eat their words might have reinvigorated the value of these "one-way players," especially for teams trying to build long, versatile defenses like the champion Knicks. But let's be real, Young is not anywhere near Brunson's caliber. So, what's next? The Wizards have made their bed with this enormous contract. The real question is whether this sets a terrifying new precedent for the rest of the league, or if they'll be left holding the bag on one of the wildest overpays we've seen. For us fans, it's a stark reminder that even in the NBA, common sense sometimes takes a vacation. Keep your eyes peeled, Seattle, because this offseason just got a whole lot more interesting to watch.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.