OPINION:
When someone makes a big announcement or holds a press conference at 6 p.m. on a Friday, it is usually to hide bad news — like SEC investigation findings or the release of damning documents.
It’s called a news dump — avoiding media scrutiny, hoping that by the time Monday rolls around, it will be buried in the news cycle.
That wasn’t the case for the Washington Wizards when they announced Friday night they had traded for Atlanta Hawks four-time All-Star guard Trae Young.
I’m sure there were good logistical reasons for the timing, because there was nothing to fear from media fallout about the deal. Just the opposite. Nothing but praise from the basketball media.
They only gave up two veterans — C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert, both of whom were expected to be dealt anyway at some point.
The fact that the Wizards didn’t have to give up any draft picks in the deal stunned many league observers, but likely speaks to the reality that the Hawks, eager to get out of the Trae Young business, had no other takers for the point guard, which makes Young’s claim that Washington was where he wanted to be laughable.
Then again, this is the place to be if expectations are low. The Wizards are the league’s version of hiding in plain sight. That’s why Kyle Kuzma liked it so much here.
There are positives. The 27-year-old Young has averaged 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game over eight seasons. He has been an assist machine, with at least 10 assists per game in three seasons, and he led the league last year with 11.6 assists per game.
And his presence will likely help emerging young star Alex Sarr and some of the other Wizards youngsters who could use someone who gets them the ball.
Young also led Atlanta to three playoff appearances, including the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.The Wizards haven’t played in an Eastern Conference Final in 47 years.
Yet the Hawks couldn’t wait to get rid of Young, so much so that they were willing to depart with him without getting any draft capital in the deal. If they are the losers in this trade, they are willing losers.
Why? How much time do you have?
Young is a turnover machine, leading the league last season by giving up the ball 4.7 times per game. His career average is 4.2 turnovers per game — the worst in NBA history.
He is one of the league’s worst defenders.
He may be a top scorer, but he is a below-average shooter, with a 43.2 career field goal percentage. In 76 games last season, Young shot 41.1%. The worst shooter in the NBA last season? The Wizards Kyshawn George at 37.2%.
Somebody’s going to get a lot of rebounds in Washington.
Young turns the ball over and can’t shoot. Yet he is a ball-dominant player whose isolation-style game has helped make the NBA product unwatchable.
Don’t believe me? Ask the league’s new superstar.
“In modern basketball, we see a lot of brands of basketball that don’t offer much variety in dangers they propose to the opponents,” Victor Wembanyama told reporters after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the defending champion Oklahoma Thunder. “Lots of isolation ball and, sometimes, kind of forced basketball. We try to propose a brand of basketball that can be described as more old school sometimes; the Spurs way as well. So it’s tactically more correct basketball, in my opinion.”
He might aswell have been talking about Young.
Look, Young didn’t cost the Wizards anything, really, and if general manager Will Dawkins and Michael Winger, team president, have some sort of convoluted league transaction in mind for a short tenure and Young departure that will bring the franchise more draft picks – invisible players – then fine.
It may be worth the show until that happens. Young has been injured and is not expected to play much the rest of the season.
But the future of the franchise? Insane.
“Re-signing Young will be a major step for the Wizards, who have lacked a superstar since the departures of John Wall and Bradley Beal,” ESPN wrote. “While there appears to be a feeling-out process on both sides, Young spoke as if he plans to be around long term.”
The Athletic weighed in: “If Young were to decline his $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, entering free agency in the upcoming summer, the Wizards would make a full push to re-sign him, according to a league source.”
Can’t shoot. Can’t defend. Turns the ball over. Sounds like a Wizards kind of contract.
When that happens, it should definitely be a Friday news dump.
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