Trae Young Set to Decline $48.9 Million Option as Potential NBA Suitors Emerge
Trae Young, 27, is expected to turn down his $48,967,380 player option after five games with Washington, according to the report published June 18, 2026. The article says it is rare for a player to walk away from that kind of guaranteed money.
Young remains one of the NBA’s most productive guards, averaging more than 17 points and over eight assists in each of his eight seasons. His career high is 56 points against Portland. He has been named an All-Star four times, including last season, and is Atlanta’s all-time assists leader.
The story also revisits Young’s draft-day history. Dallas selected him in the 2018 draft, then sent him to Atlanta in the trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Mavericks. Young, in turn, was traded for Doncic, but the move did not bring team success for Atlanta beyond one Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2021.
The article says Milwaukee, Portland, Miami and Washington are among the possible destinations if Young moves on. It frames him as a player who could alter the NBA landscape, despite being known primarily for his offense.
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