The Washington Wizards have to decide on Anthony Davis’ future, but trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers doesn’t make sense. AD played like a superstar before missing two games with an ankle injury. He is in the final guaranteed season of his contract. The Wizards should extend or trade him before the deadline. If they decide to move on, the Lakers should be one of the first teams crossed off the list.
There are rumblings about AD wanting to return to LA, but the trade doesn’t make sense. The Lakers have just a 2032 first-round pick swap and three second-rounders to trade. They got two of those picks from Washington in the Deandre Ayton deal. Washington gave up two first-round selections and three second-rounders to acquire AD. Taking back significantly less would be severe asset mismanagement.
The Lakers would struggle to make this trade. They are hard-capped at the first apron. That forces them to deal Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, or gut their depth by dealing away almost all of their new pieces. LA won’t want to do that, especially if they keep winning games.
Wizards should demand more than the Lakers can offer
These trade talks are problematic from the jump. AD is making $58.4 million, so the salary matching is tricky. The Wizards have Alex Sarr and can’t play him next to Walker Kessler. Los Angeles also just paid handsomely to get their big man. No way they are dumping Kessler for AD.
Austin Reaves doesn’t fit next to Trae Young. That would be the worst defensive backcourt in the NBA. Reaves will likely make his first All-Star team this season, but Washington shouldn't be looking to further take the ball out of AJ Dybantsa’s hands by adding AR.
Without trading Reaves or Kessler, it would take dealing Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Collin Sexton, Jake LaRavia, and Jaden Hardy. Washington can’t even take back Hardy. They should have no interest in Grimes, Mamu, and Sexton. No team wants Vando, so this deal is dead in the water without a significant draft capital haul.
The Lakers can’t offer it. They traded two first-round draft picks and two swaps to land Kessler this summer. That was LA’s big swing, and the Wizards shouldn’t be looking to move on from AD.
Wizards need Anthony Davis to contend
Washington planned to exit their rebuild and contend this season. It is why they traded for Trae Young and Davis. The Wizards drafted AJ Dybantsa with the number one overall pick. They have the talent. Davis was playing like a superstar and leading the team, despite the extension drama. They were 4-4 after eight games, but the last two have proved how important AD is in the nation’s capital.
The Wizards gave up 139 points to the Atlanta Hawks without Jalen Johnson on Friday night before losing by 39 to the Thunder on Saturday. The defense was a problem, and Washington clearly lacked a true alpha in both contests.
They need AD to contend. He is their leading scorer, best rebounder, and most important defender. Washington doesn’t want to lose him with zero return in free agency, which will force the front office to make a difficult decision. His injury history makes an extension risky, but losing Davis dashes their hopes of contention.
Anthony Davis chatter only dies down with an extension
This wasn’t a true rumor, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that Davis is at the center of league-wide talks ahead of the trade deadline. Everyone knows AD can be a free agent in the summer of 2027 if he chooses. There will be chatter and rumors unless Washington extends him.
Windhorst reported AD is willing to accept less than the max. Nobody knows how much less, and the Wizards have to make tough decisions. Trae Young just got a $212.8 million contract. No team wants to exceed the second apron, so giving Davis a massive deal prevents Washington from keeping their entire young core. It is no easy decision.
The easy choice is hanging up when the Lakers call about an AD reunion. The Wizards want more draft capital and shouldn’t be interested in the players LA is willing to offer. Rob Pelinka isn’t pulling a Nico Harrison and trading Luka Doncic for Davis. Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler don’t fit, so this trade is a no-go.
The Washington Wizards have to extend or trade Anthony Davis before the Feb. 11 deadline. If they don’t, AD could walk in free agency. He is still a superstar, but his injury history is concerning. It is not an easy decision.
The Wizards brought it on themselves. They traded for Davis, knowing he needed a new contract. The only way to stop the chatter is to make a move. Fans are just waiting to see which way Washington goes.
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