TRAE YOUNG has agreed to a four-year extension with the Washington Wizards, one that would be worth about $212 million if he picks up the final year of the deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Monday.
The fourth year of the agreement is at Young’s option, said the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Wizards had not revealed the terms. Young will make around $49 million this coming season.
The deal is part of what could be in a big week for the Wizards, who hold the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft that starts Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Young is a four-time All-Star who was sidelined by injuries for most of this past season, averaging just 17.9 points — more than seven points per game below his career average — in only 15 games with Atlanta and Washington. He made five appearances with the Wizards after getting traded to them by the Hawks, who had Young for his first 7 1/2 NBA seasons.
The dollar total that the sides agreed upon for this extension essentially matches the most that Young could have made on the free agent market if he signed somewhere other than Washington.
Young is averaging 25.1 points and 9.8 assists per game for his career. The only other player to average at least 25 points and nine assists for the entirety of an NBA career is Oscar Robertson.
Randle traded to Nets
The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, are trading Julius Randle and a first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team deal that also includes the Chicago Bulls, a person with knowledge of the terms said Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
The Timberwolves are sending the 28th pick in the draft to the Nets and will be receiving the No. 33 pick that will be made in the second round, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not received the required approvals from the league office.
ESPN, which first reported the deal, also said the Bulls would be receiving Nic Claxton from Brooklyn in the trade.
For Minnesota, the trade opens up a slew of financial possibilities. It creates a $33 million trade exception, plus gives the Timberwolves room they can use to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu and target more players in free agency.
Randle, a three-time All-Star, will be moving to his fifth team after stints with New York, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and the Timberwolves. He averaged 21.1 points this past season, though he shot just 39 percent from the field and 24 percent from 3-point range in Minnesota’s 12 playoff contests.
Claxton just finished his seventh NBA season, all with Brooklyn. He averaged 11.7 points this past season.
AP
