The Washington Wizards may want to take a long look at the Warriors’ approach before they rush into anything with Anthony Davis.
A trade rumor that briefly tied Davis to Golden State never felt especially solid, and the reporting around it points to a simple reality: neither side was ever close to treating it like a real deal. The Wizards had only recently acquired Davis, and their front office had already made it clear they were excited to pair the 10x All-Star with their young core ahead of his long-awaited autumn debut.
Golden State’s interest also came with a catch. According to The Ringer’s Logan Murdock, the Warriors would have been more aggressive about pursuing Davis if they didn’t believe he was headed for a massive extension. That’s where the conversation gets tricky for Washington, because Davis’ next payday is expected to be enormous, and his injury history by age-33 makes that kind of commitment hard to swallow.
As of next week, Davis will be eligible for a four-year, $275 offer. That leaves the Wizards with a major decision to make, and it’s one that could shape the franchise for years.
Washington has already spent time talking Davis down from his doubts about the team, and the organization has sold him on its path to contention before backing it up with an active offseason. But this is a different kind of test. Handing him that kind of money before he’s even played a single Wizards game could turn into a costly mistake in a hurry.
The Wizards have done some smart work in the trade market, but this summer hasn’t been free of backlash. A lot of the criticism has centered on Washington’s loyalty to its newest big names.
Trae Young, for his part, cashed in after a year in which his league-wide value had dipped to an all-time low. He signed a four-year contract shortly before the NBA Draft, just months after being dealt straight up for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
That deal may not have crushed the franchise, even if the annual $53 million number made plenty of people wince. Washington should still have room to extend the key pieces of its young group. But a bigger Davis contract would be a different animal entirely, one that could jam up the future they’ve been trying to build.
The Wizards do not need to force a decision right away, and they are not expected to immediately give in to Davis’ demands. They could simply play out the final guaranteed year of his current deal and see how much he has left, or even move him during the season if he restores enough of his value.
The numbers on the back end are steep. Davis is set to make $58 million in 2026-27, with a near-$63 million option waiting next summer if he doesn’t land an extension.
Still, that is easier to live with than locking themselves into an unnecessary deal through the 2020s. If the Warriors, who are running out of ways to extend the Stephen Curry era, can recognize that risk, the Wizards should be able to show the same restraint.
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AJ Dybantsa is already hearing the kind of comparison that tends to follow elite young scorers, and he is not brushing it off. The Wizards rookie said being likened to Tracy McGrady is the highest praise he has received, which says plenty about how his talent is being viewed before he has even settled into the league. When a player with his blend of athleticism and scoring touch starts drawing that kind of language, it usually means the buzz is coming from more than just one corner.
John Wall added to it from the Wizards side, seeing Dybantsa as a young McGrady for the same reasons fans would want to dream on him. Dybantsa, meanwhile, is already working through the blueprint stage of his development, with Kevin Durant as his favorite player and film study that includes Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham. For Washington, the appeal is obvious: if the rookie keeps turning that kind of promise into production, the early comparisons could end up feeling conservative. [Read more 🡒]
Kyshawn George May Decide If This Wizards Core Really Works
The Wizards have spent the offseason building one of the leagues most eye-catching collections of talent, pairing Anthony Davis and Trae Young with the No. 1 pick in AJ Dybantsa. In the middle of that reshaped roster sits Kyshawn George, the third-year forward who quietly took a real step forward in his second season before an elbow injury interrupted the momentum. His growth as a scorer, passer and shooter gave Washington a needed layer of versatility, the kind that helps a team avoid becoming too dependent on star-heavy isolation possessions.
George may end up being the swing piece for how well this group actually fits together. If he keeps providing steady offense while holding up defensively, he can give the Wizards the balance they need around their headline names and make the rest of the rotation easier to sort out. If the consistency wobbles, though, Washington could still have plenty of talent without the connective tissue that turns a collection of scorers into a real playoff threat. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Had A Bigger Reason For Moving Deandre Ayton
Deandre Aytons move to Washington was about more than just reshuffling a frontcourt. The Lakers used the deal to create financial flexibility, add assets and continue a broader roster reset around Luka Doncic, while also giving Ayton a chance to stay on the floor and try to rebuild his value in a different setting.
For the Wizards, the trade adds another layer to a young big-man mix that already includes Anthony Davis and Alexander Sarr, and it could open a path to more minutes if the depth chart shifts over time. Washington is taking on a player whose role may grow depending on injuries or future moves, while the Lakers keep working the market with Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney and Jonathan Kuminga still in the picture. [Read more 🡒]