The Anthony Davis trade chatter keeps circling back, and for the Wizards, there’s really only one kind of deal that would make them even pause: Evan Mobley.
That’s the crux of the latest buzz around Washington’s bold trade deadline move. Even after Will Dawkins recently shut down the rumors, the idea of Davis not being in Washington when the regular season starts has not gone away. And with LeBron James drawing interest from teams across the league, the ripple effect has reopened the door on a Davis deal.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O'Connor, the league-wide belief is that James’ indecision has teams wondering whether a contender could swing a blockbuster for Kyrie Irving or Anthony Davis. For the Wizards, though, the baseline hasn’t changed much. They have plans to extend Davis this offseason, and they have almost no incentive to move him before he ever suits up for them.
Key words there: close to zero.
The two destinations getting the most attention are Cleveland and Golden State. O'Connor said the scenarios being discussed are Irving going back to Cleveland or Davis landing with the Warriors to join James, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in a massive Big Four.
But Washington’s interest level is tied to the return, and Golden State’s possible package doesn’t sound like enough to move the needle. Their offer would be centered on Jimmy Butler III’s expiring contract, and even with draft picks attached, that type of framework doesn’t seem likely to get the Wizards excited, especially with Butler coming off an ACL injury.
Cleveland is a different conversation. The Cavaliers were mentioned as a possible landing spot for Irving, not Davis, but the fit is easy to see. Their roster has holes, and after getting swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, there’s at least an argument that they still wouldn’t be one 41-year-old LeBron James away from a title.
There’s also the money issue. Cleveland already has a huge chunk of payroll tied up in the frontcourt, with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combining for $78 million next season. That makes any move involving Mobley a major decision, especially considering what the Cavs have invested in him as a former top 3 pick.
Still, Mobley has not yet made the leap Cleveland expected, and that opens the door to at least some level of thought if the payoff is an immediate shot at a championship. Davis is on an expiring deal, and Cleveland could extend him in August if it wanted to keep the option open. Keeping Allen would also give Davis the kind of starting center he’s wanted for years.
From Washington’s side, Mobley is the kind of return that would actually justify listening. A defensive force with real offensive upside, he would fit alongside Alex Sarr and AJ Dybantsa in the frontcourt and give the Wizards a long-term piece without completely shutting the door on competing in the East next season.
Even so, this still feels like a long shot.
If Cleveland is serious about bringing James back to The Land for another championship run, the price is going to be steep. And with Davis in Washington, the Wizards are the ones holding the leverage if a team decides to call.
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For the Wizards, the timing matters because August 6 looms as a key date in Davis situation, and James is not expected to decide before then. The reunion chatter around Irving or Davis has not produced a deal yet, but the longer this drags on, the more Washington has reason to keep one eye on Davis and another on whether the rest of the market finally moves. [Read more 🡒]