Brian Windhorst details the difference in AD, Trae Young trades

The Washington Wizards were one of the most exciting teams in the NBA this season, and it wasn’t because of what they did on the court. rather, their trades made them the story of the league.

Last month, Washington bought Trae Younga proven All-Star with significant questions about his offensive style of play and defensive effort, from the Atlanta Hawks for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. And then this week, The Wizards traded for Anthony Davisthe Dallas Mavericks’ oft-injured big man, in a deal that sent multiple players, two first-round draft picks and three second-round picks to Dallas.

The trades, because both had talented but underachieving players, are being compared to each other, but ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said there is one big difference.

“It’s absolutely not (the same trade),” Windhorst told ‘The Hoop Collective’ in response to Tim Bontemps. “We know Trae Young is under contract (with the Wizards). I wouldn’t do that. And we don’t know that about Anthony Davis. So if he gets a contract extension, then I’ll reevaluate.”

“They didn’t agree to an extension on this trade. … I’m pretty sure they didn’t agree to an extension with him, while Trae Young gave him the old wink.”

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=VvSP9Zjn2zo

Until the two sides can’t officially sign the contract extension with the terms Young would likely want until the offseason, Windhorst’s assessment is likely correct because Washington, when negotiating a trade for the guard, promised to sign him to a significant contract in the offseason. Young, who is in the fourth season of the five-year, $215 million deal he signed with the Hawks, has a $49 million player option that he can exercise or decline in the summer.

As for Davis, who is five years older than Young, he is in the first season of a three-year, $175.4 million extension he signed back in 2023 when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers. Last February, the Mavericks acquired him in the infamous Luka Doncic trade, but he was limited to just 29 games due to injury, a common occurrence for Davis.

Davis can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, though it’s unclear whether he, at age 34 and with a significant injury history, would decline the $62.8 million player option.

If Young and Davis can stay healthy and, importantly, at the same time, the Wizards could prove to be a formidable team in the Eastern Conference. Washington, which already has a number of young, promising players, could certainly benefit from that the two-way ability of Davisas well as the offensive playmaking that Young has become known for.

The Wizards (13-36) are ready to play The best team in the East, the Detroit Pistonson the road tonight.