The Washington Wizards are not extending Anthony Davis this offseason, which means the pressure is on the 33-year-old to perform if he wants another max contract. Shams Charania reported it was a mutual decision to hold off on extension talks, but Brian Windhorst hinted that AD didn’t have much say on the Hoop Collective podcast. Davis has yet to play a game with the Wizards, and he must prove he is still elite early this season to land a monster contract.
The 33-year-old is coming off a season where he played just 20 games. He has appeared in more than 56 contests just twice since 2019. Injuries are a problem. There is no questioning Davis’ elite skill and superstar status. He made the NBA 75 and is a future Hall of Famer, but things are complicated in the second apron era. Every dollar counts, so AD is no longer a no-brainer max player. The superstar knows this is his final shot at a monster deal, but the Wizards can’t give it to him.
Davis put up elite numbers last season when healthy. Washington traded for him because they think AD can help them get back to the playoffs. The Wizards drafted AJ Dybantsa and traded for Trae Young. This is suddenly an intriguing roster that could exceed expectations. It will take a healthy Davis, which adds even more pressure on the superstar.
Pressure builds on Anthony Davis as Wizards look to improve
Davis is no stranger to feeling pressure. He has won a championship, played in multiple conference finals, was a part of two league-altering trades, and won two Olympic gold medals. He has been dealing with pressure since his youth, but this is different. AD has proved he will show up in the biggest moments, but can he stay healthy and lead a team this late in his career?
The Wizards clearly believe he can. Their refusal to trade AD this summer was head-scratching if they didn’t plan to extend him. Washington bought low, but Davis is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract. He can decline his player option next summer and become an unrestricted free agent. It would be a gamble turning down $62.7 million, but AD figures to make significantly more over the length of a new contract.
Davis has to be the best current player on the team if he’s going to get paid and the Wizards plan to return to contention.
Trae Young is an elite offensive creator, but his defensive issues are well-documented. The Hawks failed to even qualify for the playoffs in his final two years leading the roster. He gives Washington someone to get the young talent involved, but Young alone won’t change their fortunes.
AJ Dybantsa will quickly get buckets in the NBA, but there will be growing pains. Washington can't expect him to be their best player from the jump.
AD is an elite defender, rebounder, scorer, and advantage creator when healthy. Having him force mismatches, erase defensive mistakes, and drop 25 every night will make the Wizards dangerous. They need him healthy and clicking to make that happen.
Davis recovered from his season-ending injury and is ready. The superstar wants that massive $275 million max extension, and playing like a superstar to start the season is the only way he’s getting it from the Wizards. That is immense pressure to deliver. Literally millions of dollars are hanging on it.
The Washington Wizards are not extending Anthony Davis this offseason, which adds some extra spice to the early season. Fans want to see the team leap into contention and will now be watching AD closely. The superstar must stay healthy. If he does that, fans can bet he will be one of the best players on the planet. The pressure will be ratcheted up long before it usually hits those levels for Davis and the Wizards. Fans won’t want to miss a second because of it.
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