The Washington Wizards have to decide Anthony Davis' future in short order because he can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. AD has a $62.7 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. The two sides are holding off on extension talks until the regular season. It puts pressure on the future Hall of Famer to perform, but it also opens the franchise to risk. AD could be gone with zero return if Washington doesn’t make a decision quickly.
Washington gave up two first-round draft picks and three second-rounders to land Davis. It wasn’t a massive haul, but the Wizards paid for the ten-time All-Star. They turned down trade interest this summer, which makes their extension decision look worse. The Wizards have to decide if AD is a long-term piece and how much they are willing to pay him.
Davis wants a massive contract and may not be sold on staying in the nation’s capital. This is a young squad looking to exit a rebuild with Trae Young and AD leading their roster. If Davis wants to win a championship, the Wizards are years away from title contention. The two sides need to get on the same page to avoid this cloud hanging over the season.
Wizards already have an Anthony Davis contract problem
The Wizards traded for AD at the deadline, but the big man still hasn’t suited up for the franchise. There is plenty of worry about his injury history. Davis played just 20 games last season and has averaged just 49.6 per year over the last eight. Betting on more than 50 games from the 33-year-old seems unwise.
The Wizards can’t give Davis a four-year, $275 million max extension. He is still elite when on the floor, but AD's injury history should push the dollars down. Every penny counts in the second apron era. Washington overpaid for Trae Young and can’t afford to throw a massive second contract on top of that.
The two sides need to agree on a number. The Wizards traded for AD and plan to grant his wish to play the four. They clearly value him, but don’t want an untradeable contract on their books.
Davis has plenty of say in this decision. He knows he can avoid an extension this season and get paid in free agency next summer. The Wizards want it to work, but it will be costly if it does.
Wizards must extend or trade Anthony Davis before the deadline
The trade deadline should force Washington to make a move. If the Wizards can’t extend AD, they should trade him in February. That allows the franchise to recoup some assets and gets Davis in a situation he desires. Washington could have traded him this summer, and multiple offers will be on the table if the 6’10 big man is healthy at the deadline.
This is already a problem. The uncertainty of the situation has AD and the entire team wondering about his future. The Wizards hope to take a massive leap forward this season and return to the postseason. That won’t be easy with a future Hall of Famer not knowing his future.
The Washington Wizards must sort out the Anthony Davis situation ASAP. They should either lock him up on a long-term contract or trade him to the highest bidder. Washington has a young core worth building around. They need to maximize assets, so it is time to extend or trade AD.
The Wizards can make this problem go away quickly. They want to see what Davis can do early this season, but it will force them to make a call on a small sample. Washington added talent and is trying to make it fit. Fans will soon find out if AD does, so stay tuned for all the latest.
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