When Anthony Davis was surprisingly traded to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline last season, there were a number of questions that followed him to the District. Would he be happy playing on a non-title contender? Will the Wizards pay him the max contract he's looking for? Will Davis ever suit up for the Wizards?
So far, two of those questions have been seemingly answered. He'll definitely suit up for the Wizards this season as they look to take the jump from a team playing for lottery balls to a team playing with real playoff expectations. All indications point to the fact that he's happy in Washington too. He hasn't said anything otherwise.
However, the contract situation is a little dicey. Davis wants a max contract, and a healthy version of Davis is absolutely still a max-level player. At 33 years old, this is likely Davis' last opportunity to secure a max contract. The Wizards, however, are a little wary of it, and you can't blame them.
The Wizards want to see him on the court consistently before committing to him long-term. While I agree with this, Davis is the most talented player to wear the red, white, and blue in many years. If he's healthy this season, the Wizards shouldn't hesitate to make him a part of the long-term core.
Anthony Davis should compromise with the Wizards on a deal
Undoubtedly, Davis has an impressive resume. A one-time champion, 10-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, and a member of the NBA 75 team is just a portion of his accomplishments. He'll undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. However, his recent few years have been rather forgettable.
His tenure in Dallas was doomed from the start. Being the centerpiece of arguably the worst trade in NBA history was the writing on the wall there, and injuries defined the rest. He has a chance to completely flip the narrative around him in Washington.
If he can take a somewhat team-friendly deal, while still making significant money and securing long-term stability with the franchise, that could be a win-win situation for both teams. The Wizards are able to lock up a franchise superstar long-term to help them get back to relevance, and Davis can build a legacy in Washington.
If Davis is the superstar to turn the tide with the Wizards, he'll be beloved in a city that's been starved for basketball success. Once his career ends, a lot of people will remember him in a Wizards jersey, and that's valuable for both parties.
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