A Trae Young trade could justify Alex Sarr over Stephon Castle

The The decision of the Washington Wizards to acquire Trae Young may end up changing how the franchise’s 2024 NBA draft picks are evaluated.

On the latest episode of The Zach Lowe Show, NBA analyst Zach Lowe suggested that Washington’s trade for Young could justify retroactively choosing Alec Sarr over Stephen Castledespite the growing consensus that Castle should have been the top pick in the draft.

“There’s no doubt he’ll help Sarah,” Lowe said. “I mean, we’ve seen Tree get centers paid for lob dunks and spot-up threes. For a guy like John Collins when he played the four. He’ll get Sarr easier buckets than Sarr is now. By the way, I’m super on Sarr. I know Castle is the consensus now, like he should have been the first pick in the draft, if you’re telling me he’s a better pick than Castle in the draft. I’m not 100% sure the answer is Castle, I think Sarr can be that good.

Washington officially completed the trade on Friday, sending CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Yang. While the move drew immediate attention for its long-term implications, Lowe presented it as a potential development accelerator for Sara, who was selected No. 2 overall by the Wizards.

Lowe admitted that the mood after the draft suddenly shifted in Castle’s favor. The former No. 4 pick has emerged as the perceived leader of the class, fueled by early production and team success with San Antonio Spurs. However, Lowe argued that Sarr’s ceiling remains comparable, especially next to an elite playmaker.

The Trae Young trade adds a new layer to the Alex Sarr and Stefon Castle draft debate

The draft debate only got layered when Atlanta selected Zachary Rizacher at No. 1, giving Young’s former team their own stake in how the class is ultimately graded.

Sarr, 20, produced a strong early comeback despite Washington’s efforts. In 27 games, he is averaging 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, three assists and 2.3 blocks per game, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three. He is playing 28.3 minutes per contest for a Wizards team that is ranked 14th in the Eastern Conference at 10–26.

Castle, meanwhile, continued to build his resume with San Antonio. The 21-year-old guard is averaging 17.7 points, 6.9 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field in 28 games. His play helped the Spurs to a 26–11 record, good for second in the Western Conference standings.

Despite the excitement surrounding the pairing, Young’s impact in Washington may not be immediate. With the New York Knicks controlling the Wizards’ first-round pick, the organization’s priorities remain focused on long-term development rather than short-term wins. The league’s expectation is that Young’s role on the court could be limited this season, and the true evaluation of the Young-Sarr partnership likely begins next year.