Lou Williams explains why Trae and AD should play this season: "You don't want to start having problems 10-15 games in"

There were plenty of headline-grabbing moves during the 2026 midseason trade window, and one franchise that received widespread praise was the Washington Wizards after acquiring a star duo in Anthony Davis and Trae Young. However, with the team sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference standings at 14-39, it seems unlikely they will feature in the postseason.

So, naturally, attention is starting to shift towards what this duo could look like next season. But if Lou Williams is to be considered, AD and Ice Trae should not waste time this season by sitting out; rather, they should use it to find the missing pieces.

Lou explains his perspective

Davis last played on January 08, 2026, when he injured his hand late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Though there were initially expectations of a return at some point towards the business end of the regular season, the recent trade development has tempered that urgency. On the other hand, Young has been out since December 27 due to knee and quadriceps issues but is set to be re-evaluated after the 2026 All-Star break.

Given Washington’s current positioning, being 11 wins away from the 10th seed, the front office could logically prioritize draft positioning. Thus, even if Trae returns to full health, the Wizards might hesitate to risk further injury in a season that offers little competitive reward. It’s no surprise that tanking, whether acknowledged or not, becomes a strategic consideration for teams at the bottom.

However, Lou emphasized why waiting might be the wrong approach. The former 6MOTY believes that AD and Ice Trae should use the 2025-26 season to understand their on-court fit, develop chemistry with young talents like Alex Sarr and identify roster needs ahead of next season. Put simply, these remaining games could function as an extended trial run.

“You should becasue you have never played together. You don’t know what it looks like, you don’t know if it works. I can see this happening, ‘We need to go get a shooter, we need to go gett a wing.’ You don’t want to start having problems 10-15 games in next year,” Williams said. “You have an opportunity to adjust.”

The Wizards might not see any action from Trae or Anthony this season

While Williams’ logic does make sense, the reality of the Wizards’ situation complicates matters. With the team among the worst franchises of the season, it’s questionable whether two established stars would feel motivated to return for a non-competitive stretch.

Additionally, Davis has already expressed that any long-term commitment depends on understanding the franchise’s future decisions. That indicates how Washington’s front office likely has a larger plan in place for the next campaign.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Lou Williams explains why Trae and AD should play this season: “You don’t want to start having problems 10-15 games in”

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