Wizards Weighing Trae Young's Return Amid Anthony Davis Injury

Washington must balance playoff push with draft lottery odds as star guard recovers from MCL injury.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Washington Wizards are facing a dilemma regarding the return of star guard Trae Young, who was acquired in a midseason trade from the Atlanta Hawks. With Anthony Davis likely out for the remainder of the season due to injury, the Wizards must decide whether to bring Young back and make a playoff push or hold him out to improve their draft positioning.

Why it matters

The Wizards' decision on Trae Young's return will have significant implications for their short-term and long-term future. Bringing him back could boost their playoff chances, but sitting him could improve their odds of landing a top draft pick to pair with Young and Davis long-term.

The details

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins indicated that Young is expected to play at some point in the second half of the season, but there is speculation the team may opt to hold him out to prioritize their draft positioning. Young, 27, missed most of the current season with the Hawks due to an MCL injury and has yet to suit up for the Wizards since being traded.

  • Young suffered an MCL injury in October 2025 while playing for the Hawks.
  • The Wizards acquired Young in a midseason trade in January 2026.
  • Dawkins said Young is expected to play for the Wizards at some point in the second half of the 2025-26 season.

The players

Trae Young

A 27-year-old All-Star guard who was recently traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards.

Anthony Davis

An All-Star forward who the Wizards acquired from the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline, but is likely out for the rest of the season due to injury.

Will Dawkins

The general manager of the Washington Wizards.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Young is only 27. He played in just 10 games in Atlanta this season before getting moved. Is he going to throw away one whole season of his career because of Washington's, uh, draft positioning prioritization aims?”

— Marc Stein, NBA Insider (Substack)

What’s next

The Wizards will face a critical decision on Trae Young's return in the coming weeks as they weigh their playoff aspirations against their draft lottery odds following Anthony Davis' injury.

The takeaway

The Wizards' handling of Trae Young's return will be a delicate balancing act, as they must decide whether to prioritize their short-term playoff push or their long-term future by potentially holding him out to improve their draft position.