Anthony Davis Shuts Down Trade Rumors, Embraces New Chapter with Wizards
Anthony Davis is setting the record straight. After being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards in one of the most headline-grabbing moves of the NBA trade deadline, the All-Star big man is pushing back on talk that he’s unhappy with his new home.
Despite whispers that Davis was less than thrilled to land with a rebuilding team, the veteran forward-center made it clear in a recent interview that those rumors don’t hold water.
“They said I said a lot of stuff in the other city, too, that I didn’t say,” Davis told The Athletic. It’s a pointed comment that not only shuts down the speculation but also hints at some lingering frustration with how things ended in Dallas.
And while Davis won’t suit up for the Wizards this season-he’s been shut down for the remainder of the year-he’s already looking ahead to what’s being built in the nation’s capital. And make no mistake: he’s intrigued.
“I talked briefly [Friday] with Will [Dawkins, Wizards GM],” Davis said. “Obviously, at this time, every year, you want to compete for championships and stuff like that.
That’s obviously the main focus, getting to that place. Conversations are going to be held to see about getting to that space.”
That’s the kind of mindset you want from a franchise cornerstone. Davis isn’t just showing up-he’s invested in the direction of the team. After bouncing around over the last couple of seasons, he’s looking for stability and a vision he can buy into.
“I want to see the plan, hear the plan, see the vision,” he added. “Bringing Trae [Young] here and other things in store, what they’re thinking of doing, I want to have those conversations with them and see what happens. The city is obviously phenomenal.”
There’s reason for optimism in D.C. The Wizards made another major move at the deadline, acquiring All-Star point guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks.
That’s not just a splash-it’s a statement. Pairing a healthy Davis with a dynamic playmaker like Young gives Washington a potentially lethal inside-out duo heading into the 2026-27 season.
Davis, even in a down year by his standards, was still putting up 20 points and 11 rebounds per game across 20 contests, while anchoring the defense with his usual impact. That kind of production doesn’t just disappear-it reloads. And once he’s back to full strength, the Wizards could be looking at a legitimate foundation to build around.
For now, Davis is watching from the sidelines. But he’s not just watching-he’s planning. And if the Wizards’ front office can deliver on the vision he’s eager to see, Washington might finally be ready to turn the corner.