Anthony Davis landed in Washington with something he never really had in Dallas: a clearer runway to a championship chase.
That sounds almost absurd when you look back at how the Mavericks once framed the Luka Dončić deal. Nico Harrison’s pitch was that bringing in Davis would put Dallas in a better spot to contend.
Instead, Davis arrived in a situation that unraveled quickly, and his time there was cut short by injuries. He played just 29 games for the Mavericks.
Now the 33-year-old is with the Wizards, and as strange as it would have sounded in 2024, Washington gives him a better chance to win a title than Dallas did. The Mavericks were fresh off a run to the NBA Finals with Dončić and Kyrie Irving, and yet the franchise has since pivoted away from Davis, moving him for financial flexibility as it builds around Cooper Flagg. Even with the 19-year-old and Irving - who may not be there for long - Dallas remains a long way from real contention.
Washington is not exactly sitting at the doorstep of a title, either. The Wizards are still probably a couple of years away from that level.
But compared with the Mavericks, they are ahead in the process. Davis is stepping into a place where he can help shape a championship culture, even if the results won’t arrive overnight.
The partnership is still in its early stages, and both sides are keeping their options open. Washington did not discuss an extension with Davis’ camp when he became eligible on Aug. 6, and the plan is to revisit that during the season and, as he said at media day, after the season.
That delay can be read a couple of ways. The Wizards may want to see whether Davis can stay on the floor.
Davis may want to see how the new roster stacks up against the rest of the conference and the league. At media day, he had only positive things to say about the team’s offseason work, including the veteran additions, but the bigger picture is still fuzzy after Washington finished 17-65 last season.
One thing is clear: they should win more than 17 games this year, and possibly a lot more if Davis and Trae Young stay healthy. That matters for Davis, especially with a new contract on the horizon.
For now, he remains in evaluation mode, just as he was in Dallas. The Mavericks decided it wasn’t worth investing in his future, and that choice may have opened the door for him in Washington. The Wizards are still building, but unlike Dallas, they are at least moving toward contention.
In Other News...
Wizards Face An Early Test Their New Mix Needs To Pass
The Wizards opened the preseason with a win over the Knicks, a nice first look at a roster trying to sort out its new shape before the games start counting. Next up is a home date with the Pistons, another useful measuring stick for a group that is still learning how its pieces fit together, especially on a bench that struggled in the first exhibition and needs a cleaner showing against a Detroit team that likes to pressure offenses in different ways.
All of that makes the injury report worth watching as much as the matchup itself. Alex Sarr and Khris Middleton are both in game-time territory, which leaves Washington waiting on more clarity before tipoff, while the Wizards are already down Tristan Vukcevic and Jamir Watkins. For a team trying to build momentum early, the chance to get a more complete look at the rotation matters almost as much as the result. [Read more 🡒]
Deandre Ayton Gets A Fresh Wizards Chance He Desperately Needed
Deandre Aytons arrival gives Washington one of the more intriguing reclamation projects on its roster. The 2018 No. 1 pick is now with his fourth team in five seasons, and the move comes with the kind of low-pressure, high-clarity setup he has not always had elsewhere. For the Wizards, it is another swing at finding a useful veteran presence in the frontcourt while trying to steady a rebuild that still needs more dependable production around the paint.
Ayton is not being asked to carry everything or force his way into a centerpiece role right away. Instead, this looks like a chance to lean into the parts of his game that can matter most for Washington: defensive rebounding, efficient scoring near the rim and giving the team a steadier option when the front line is short-handed. If he can settle into that lane, the Wizards could get more than just depth - they could get a player who helps them inch toward something closer to a turnaround. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Sarr's Return Puts Two Big Wizards Questions Under The Spotlight
Alex Sarr is back in the mix just in time for the preseason to start answering a few of the Wizards bigger frontcourt questions. After working his way back from a foot injury, the rookie is cleared to play and is expected to return against the Detroit Pistons, giving Washington its first real chance to see how he fits into the rotation after the layoff.
What makes this return worth watching is not just whether Sarr looks healthy, but how the Wizards choose to use him. His offensive role, especially in pick-and-roll action with Trae Young, remains an obvious point of intrigue, while his defensive positioning could have a real effect on Washingtons interior protection. For a team still sorting out its identity, this game should offer a useful early read on both sides of Sarrs game. [Read more 🡒]