Anthony Davis has not played a single game for the Washington Wizards, and yet his future with the team has already become one of the hottest topics in the NBA today.
Davis is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, worth $58.5 million in 2026-27, with a $62.8 million player option for the season after that. Washington acquired him from Dallas last February in a nine-player, three-team trade that also involved Charlotte, though the 33-year-old still hasn’t played a game for his new team due to injuries.
There is still no long-term resolution in sight. Davis became eligible earlier this week to sign an extension worth up to four years and $275 million, the first year of which would replace his $62.8 million option for 2027-28. He and Washington have agreed to hold off on extension talks until the season starts, reportedly wanting to see how the first 20 or so games play out.
Several trade rumors have flared up, most notably a pursuit by the Golden State Warriors aimed at helping recruit LeBron James, though that fell apart once James signed with Philadelphia.
All things considered, Washington’s patient stance makes sense given where the franchise stands.
The Wizards have lost 64 or more games in each of the last three seasons, and they brought in Davis and four-time NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young last year hoping the duo could bring them back into the playoff hunt and simultaneously mentor a young core led by 2026 first overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
Washington already locked up Young this summer on a four-year, $212 million extension and added Khris Middleton and Deandre Ayton, who should play key roles for them this year. Davis, for his part, played just 20 games last season for Dallas because of a hand injury, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks. He never took the floor for Washington, though he has recently worked out with the team this offseason. Together and healthy, the Davis-Young tandem could form a lethal inside-out combination.
Still, the real question lies in their health. Davis has played 75-plus games in a season only three times in 14 years, and has totaled just 71 games over the past two seasons since a career-high 76 in 2023-24. Young missed significant time last year too, appearing in only 15 games with the Wizards and his former team, the Atlanta Hawks.
Davis’ track record in terms of health is likely why Washington remains hesitant to commit to a longer-term deal, even when considering his career averages of 24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. The Wizards seem to be aware that there is significant risk involved with signing an oft-injured big man to a lucrative contract extension at this point of his career.
The résumé, of course, speaks for itself. Davis is a 6-foot-10 former No. 1 overall pick, a 10-time All-Star, a 2020 NBA champion, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team, and a five-time All-NBA member. He is still in the tail end of his prime and capable of helping a team win a championship as one of its top players.
What he does next, though, is crucial and may ultimately define his legacy. He doesn’t have that many good years left, and he must choose wisely.
