The Washington Wizards know Anthony Davis is their best player, but the two sides being unable to agree on an extension has everyone wondering for how long. The franchise got a discount on a superstar when they only had to trade two first-round picks to acquire him. Both teams knew AD could become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027. The Mavericks had no plans to extend, so they put that difficult decision on Washington.
Davis is the best player to wear a Wizards jersey in years. He averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks in just 22.0 minutes per game this preseason. AD was a two-way force. The GMs gave him a vote as the best power forward in the NBA. Washington rarely has this level of talent, but they have to deal with an uncomfortable level of uncertainty to keep him in the nation’s capital.
Davis has already said he wants to wait until after this season to discuss an extension. The Wizards can’t delay the talks that long. They need AD to reach their goals, but can’t risk losing him with zero return. This situation is a double-edged sword that Washington must carefully wield to snap their five-year playoff drought and get back into contention.
Wizards need Anthony Davis to reach their goals
Washington is trying to go from rebuilding to contending in one year. It is one of the most difficult things to do in the NBA. The Wizards won just 17 games last season and were 26 victories away from making the Play-In Tournament. That is a massive leap, and only possible with a significant influx of talent.
The Wizards made that. They traded for AD and Trae Young along with drafting AJ Dybantsa number one overall. Washington has the young talent and added veterans like Deandre Ayton and Khris Middleton to stabilize the rest of their roster.
They aren’t making a leap into the playoffs without Davis. He is still one of the top 25 players in the world when healthy. Washington doesn’t have another player in that stratosphere unless Dybantsa instantly reaches his potential.
Young’s Hawks missed the playoffs for his final two years in Atlanta. The Wizards' young core was nowhere close. Anthony Davis gives the nation’s capital hope, while leaving them dealing with future questions.
Anthony Davis’ future is uncertain
Davis is under contract for $58.4 million this season and has a $62.7 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. The 33-year-old likely only has one massive extension left in his NBA career, and he wants it to be for the max. The Wizards have a superstar for the first time since John Wall, but they can’t pay AD $275 million over the next four years after giving Trae Young $212 million.
The second apron squeezes every team and will quickly put pressure on the Wizards if they lock in Davis. Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bub Carrington are all extension-eligible before the 2027-28 season. Tre Johnson and Will Riley become eligible in 2028. Paying Young and AD wouldn’t leave room for the young core.
The Wizards want Davis to take less to make the roster around him better, but there is no guarantee this group can win. AD won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. He wants to contend and get paid. Davis doesn’t know if he can do either in Washington. That leaves the Wizards with the burden.
Anthony Davis will force Wizards to make difficult decisions
The franchise needs to prove they can win with AD and give him a massive extension if they want to keep the superstar in the nation’s capital. None of those things are easy. Getting back into contention will force Washington to get rid of the pieces that no longer fit. That is painful after spending years developing a talent. Paying Davis into his late 30s is a risk, but he will leave if no extension is struck.
This is not uncommon. NBA superstars bring pressure, a demand to win, and a desire to get paid. That is all AD wants. He wants to see the Wizards competing and a massive extension. Davis is worth every penny if he stays healthy. Fans saw he can be a dominant two-way force in the preseason and know it will translate over to the games that count.
The tough calls start immediately. If the Wizards can’t extend Davis by the trade deadline, they have to decide if they want to guarantee a return for the superstar by trading him or risk him walking in free agency. Washington won’t make the playoffs without AD, so it won’t be an easy call. Things only get more difficult if they keep him.
Anthony Davis is a gift and a curse for the Washington Wizards. He is the superstar talent the franchise has struggled to acquire, but he comes with a desire to be extended on a potentially untradeable contract. There are no easy decisions, but there rarely are with an aging superstar. Washington must act quickly and choose the right path, especially with AJ Dybantsa already on the roster.
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