Anthony Davis’ future with the Washington Wizards is already under the microscope, and if things go sideways early, the Houston Rockets have been floated as a team to watch.
Davis, who was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025 to the Dallas Mavericks before landing with Washington, is still sorting out whether the Wizards are the right long-term fit. He has made it clear he sees a path for him and Trae Young to help shift the direction of the franchise.
“I’m sure that they want to win as well. Nobody wants to lose … I know we have a lot of young guys, but like I said, I mentioned it about the young guys, how talented they are. Adding Trae and myself kind of can help change that,” AD told ESPN.
For now, Washington and Davis are taking a patient approach. The team and Rich Paul have agreed to put extension talks on hold until after the season begins, giving both sides roughly the first 20 games to see how the fit looks and how the Wizards come out of the gate.
“The Washington Wizards and Anthony Davis' agent, Rich Paul, have mutually decided to wait on talks for a potential extension until after the season starts, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. One source told Charania that this gives both sides the first 20 or so games to marinate over a potential extension and see how the early part of the season goes for the Wizards and for the 10-time All-Star,” ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk wrote.
That setup leaves the door open for another move if Washington stumbles, and SI’s Blake Silverman has pointed to Houston as a possible landing spot.
“Anthony Davis is the one big fish still out there that teams could chase. A trade partner would just need to be able to stomach the enormous amount left on his current contract. With Dybantsa in the mix and Sarr’s continued development, an AD trade makes sense should Washington not see the star big man as part of its plans for the long haul,” Silverman wrote.
A Davis-to-Houston deal would be huge in every sense. The Rockets could pair Kevin Durant with Davis and instantly give themselves a front-line duo with the kind of force that changes playoff expectations in a hurry.
Davis has earned $364 million during his career, and if the Wizards’ start goes poorly, the idea of moving him again would become very real. If Houston ends up as the destination, it would be a franchise-shifting swing for both sides.
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Deandre Ayton Already Faces A Tough Wizards Reality
Deandre Aytons move to Washington arrived with some obvious intrigue, but it also comes with an immediate wrinkle. The Wizards acquired the veteran big man from the Lakers in a deal that sent out Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks, adding another notable name to a frontcourt mix that already has Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr expected to carry major weight.
For Ayton, the appeal of a fresh start is easy to see, but the on-court path is less clear. Washington has a crowded front end of the rotation, and the early signs point to a role that may not match the status or expectations that usually follow a player of his resume. How he fits, and how comfortable he is adapting to that reality, could become one of the more interesting subplots around the Wizards as the season takes shape. [Read more 🡒]