Anthony Davis is finally getting ready for his official debut with the Washington Wizards, nearly eight months after that trade from Dallas, but let’s be real, his long-term future in the capital is the *real* headline here. According to The Athletic’s David Aldridge and Josh Robbins, teams around the league are super aware that Davis’ camp is pushing for a contract that pays him at, or super close to, maximum salaries. This guy’s entering the final guaranteed year of his current deal at $58.5 million, with a player option for $62.8 million in 2027-28. He’s been eligible to sign an extension for a massive $275 million over four years since August 6.
The Money Talks, But Nobody’s Rushing
Despite all the offseason chatter that Davis and the Wizards would hash out an extension once he became eligible, it seems neither side is exactly sprinting to the finish line. Robbins dropped the info on August 6 that we shouldn’t expect any “meaningful talks” until after the season actually kicks off. Davis himself confirmed this during media day on September 28, saying he plans to play out this season first. “When the season is over,” Davis stated, “I’m going to go through the season, and kind of do what I do at a high level, and then, when it’s over, you know, sit down and have those key conversations again with the front office.” It kinda makes sense, right? Nobody knows how he’ll truly fit with Washington’s current core, especially with Trae Young and their new No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa.
Injury Woes vs. Max Money Dreams
Here’s the rub: Davis’ desire for a max or near-max deal could be a massive hurdle for some teams in this new apron era, where every big payday is under a microscope. Especially when you look at his injury history. He’s been plagued with issues throughout his career, and it’s gotten even tougher recently. He barely saw the court after his trade to Dallas from the Lakers, playing just 29 out of a possible 115 games during that stretch. If you zoom out a bit further, he’s only played 71 out of 164 possible games in the two seasons prior to that Dallas move. That number is brutal. It’s not like his play has fallen off a cliff when he *is* on the court; he’s put up 23.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game in 71 starts since that All-NBA 2023-24 season with the Lakers. Back then, he played 76 games and was even fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. That kind of season, where he actually *stays on the court*, is exactly what he needs if he wants that big bag.
Washington, to their credit, is in a good spot financially to potentially swing a Davis extension if things click. Trae Young is the only other player on their books making more than $16 million in the 2027-28 season. And if Dybantsa turns into the player they hope, his extension wouldn’t even kick in until 2030-31, by which time Young’s deal would be done and Davis would be heading into his final year of a hypothetical four-year contract. Young only got a five-game sample size with Washington last season after his January trade from the Hawks before getting shut down, but with him, Davis, and Dybantsa, this Wizards roster is one of the most fascinating in the East.
So, for Davis, it’s all about this season. Can he stay healthy? Can he put up those All-NBA numbers consistently? Because if he does, that $275 million conversation is going to look a whole lot different. We’re all watching to see what happens when the ball finally goes up for Washington.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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