Trae Young has only appeared in 10 games this season, and there's a good chance he doesn't appear in too many more. Per The Athletic's Joshua Robbins (subscription required), Washington's plan in the aftermath of this move "isn’t for Young to help them this season," instead allowing him to rehab from his injuries and not rush back. That doesn't mean he's done for the year, but it does hint that his injury issues may take some time to recover.
A team like the Wizards, who need to stack losses in an effort to keep their draft pick next summer, can afford to add a player like that. The Milwaukee Bucks, however, cannot. Before he was traded to Washington, Young was reportedly on Milwaukee's radar. Had they traded for him, they would have inherited these injury concerns at a time when they need all hands on deck.
The Milwaukee Bucks need help, and they need it now, not later
A Trae Young to Milwaukee trade had so many holes from the beginning, as he's a small point guard with well-documented deficiencies on the defensive end and someone who needs the basketball in his hands more often than not. Even if he were fully healthy right now, gutting a good chunk of the team to acquire Young would have been a baffling move.
The recent injury woes were the ultimate red flag. With a poor record and their title hopes slipping, the Milwaukee Bucks' next move must revolve around adding someone who's ready to contribute immediately and consistently. Young wasn't that, and taking a risk that his ailments would suddenly heal once he landed in Milwaukee would have been a big risk.
The Bucks went down this road with Khris Middleton, who is now ironically Young's new teammate in Washington. During his final couple of years in Milwaukee, Middleton's status was always up in the air due to a string of unfortunate injuries. Despite his status as a franchise icon, the inability to rely on him saw the Milwaukee Bucks trade the forward away.
Some would try to justify the gamble after seeing what Washington gave up to get Young, which was a package of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. No picks. For a four-time All-Star, yes, that is a pretty reasonable package. However, again, Washington is a great fit for Young because they can afford to be patient and wait on his terms. The Bucks aren't in that position.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.