Tomorrow, Anthony Davis will suit up for the Washington Wizards for the first time since the team traded for him before the February deadline. He'll start his first season in D.C., which fans are rightfully excited about, but they know his future is uncertain, and he could be traded again, perhaps before the deadline. So listing an AD trade as a bold prediction for 2026-27 doesn't feel right.
CBS Sports released 15 bold predictions for the season, including one that reads, 'Anthony Davis will be traded.'
Because the Wizards opted not to discuss an extension with Davis when he became eligible in early August and want to wait to have those potential conversations during the season, a trade is likely. He has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28 that he could decline to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, meaning he could walk, leaving Washington with nothing.
The Wizards understand that. They will use the start of the season to evaluate AD's fit with the team, and he will do the same for them. If they realize they're not on the same page, a trade could materialize before the Feb. 11 deadline.
Wizards trading Anthony Davis is very much a possibility
Now, Davis said at media day that he wants to wait to discuss his future until after the season ends. While that is understandable, since it could become an in-season distraction, Washington shouldn't take that stance. It's hard to envision AD turning down nearly $63 million to hit the open market, since he won't make that kind of annual salary on his next deal, but it's possible.
After the Wizards traded for Davis, he said he wants to be able to "compete" where he is. He reaffirmed his desire to win, which the organization already knew.
The Wizards are focused on competing this season, rather than chasing another high draft pick (the league's new anti-tanking reform is out to curb that); they want to win. They traded for Trae Young and Davis, drafted AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick, and added veterans during the offseason because of that.
Whether Washington can actually jump from a bottom-dweller to a top team in the East, let alone the entire conference, will be quite a challenge. If the Wizards can claw their way into the play-in tournament and potentially make the first round of the playoffs, that'd be a meaningful step forward.
Will that progression be enough for Davis to want to stick around? By February, he'll have a clear idea of where his team stands, and if he's set on competing for another title sooner rather than later, he could decide a trade is best. Or the Wizards could decide that themselves.
Could Davis still be on Washington's roster by the time the season ends? Of course. But would it be surprising if he isn't? No.
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