Anthony Davis’ future in Washington looked shaky entering the offseason, especially with reports that other teams were circling and waiting for a chance to pry him away. The Wizards had little interest in backing off their big trade deadline swing, but if Davis decided to force the issue, the whole thing could have turned sour fast.
Instead, Washington may have found the piece that makes the fit make sense.
The arrival of Deandre Ayton could be the overlooked move that keeps Davis in the DMV. If Davis wants the max extension he’s seeking, the Wizards are still positioned to give it to him. But Ayton gives him something just as important: a frontcourt setup that lets him play the way he’s wanted to for years.
That has been the constant complaint for Davis, going back to his time with the New Orleans Pelicans and then through his Lakers run. He has long wanted to operate at power forward, and the Lakers never really gave him the kind of big man partner that made that possible. JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard and Jaxson Hayes were the names they cycled through, but none of them were the answer Davis had in mind.
Now Washington may have stumbled into it.
Ayton fills a major hole behind Davis and Alex Sarr, giving the Wizards a dependable backup in the frontcourt. More importantly, he opens the door for Davis to stay at the 4 every time he’s on the floor. That means less wrestling with center duties and more room to do what he does best.
With Trae Young committed long term and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa added to the young core, the Wizards already had reasons to believe in where this is going. Ayton might be the move that pushes Davis all the way in. Whether he’s paired with Sarr or Davis, Ayton’s presence gives Washington flexibility, while also freeing Davis to roam, stretch the floor and try to show he’s still the All-NBA caliber player the Wizards bet on.
That kind of freedom is something Davis hasn’t really had since his Pelicans days alongside prime DeMarcus Cousins. And with Ayton now in the mix, Washington may have finally given him the setup he’s been asking for all along.
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