The craziest contract of the NBA summer has to be Trae Young’s new four-year, $212 million deal with the Washington Wizards. Seriously, what were they thinking? This dude was straight-up salary dumped by the Hawks, who openly tried to trade him for over a year. At max money, nobody, and I mean nobody, wanted him. Then the Wizards just dropped a cool $212 million on him like it was pocket change.
The $212 Million Question Mark
Let’s be real, the Atlanta Hawks spent over a year trying to trade Trae Young, openly, at anywhere near max money, and absolutely no other team bit. They were desperate to offload him. This guy is an offense unto himself, sure, but a max contract in today’s NBA? The bar for that is incredibly high, and Young just isn’t there. We’re talking about a landscape where Jaylen Brown, who won Finals MVP in 2024 and finished top-five in MVP voting last year, couldn’t even get a full max relationship from the Celtics. And James Harden, even at 37 years old and arguably a better version of Young, got $97 million over three years from the Cavaliers, which felt like an overpay at the time! There is no world where Young is worth $212 million. This isn’t just an overpay; it’s a massive one that’s gonna weigh down Washington’s books for nearly the next half-decade. That’s a brutal reality check for a team trying to find its footing.
Dean Wade’s Under-the-Radar Steal
While everyone was going wild over the Jaylen Brown and LeBron James coup, the Philadelphia 76ers quietly pulled off a fantastic pickup with Dean Wade. He signed for $29 million over three years, which sounds like an absolute steal when you look at what he brings to the court. This isn’t some flashy, ball-dominant scorer; Wade is a total star support player, exactly what you need on a contender. He’s a true 3&D wing, rocking a usage rate beneath 10 percent. Last season, he was a 40 percent spot-up 3-point shooter overall, and a ridiculous 41 percent from the corners, according to Synergy. And don’t forget, he can defend at 6-foot-9, making him incredibly versatile. On a team stacked with offensive weapons, Wade is that critical piece that can tie the Sixers’ whole puzzle together, spacing the floor and playing tenacious defense. Philly got themselves a winner with this one.
The NBA summer is winding down, but these moves definitely set the stage for next season. How that $212 million albatross impacts the Wizards’ future, and how Dean Wade helps the Sixers contend, will be absolutely fascinating to watch. It’s gonna be a wild ride, and these early season narratives are already locked in.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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