Anthony Davis's Extension Talks With Wizards Are NBA's Next Offseason Domino

Aug 03, 2026 05:00 PM - 3 hours ago 3

On Aug. 6, Anthony Davis becomes eligible to motion a four-year maximum statement hold pinch the Washington Wizards that's projected to beryllium worthy astir $273 million. How those talks proceed could person awesome ripple effects crossed the NBA.

"There are rumblings he's demanding that afloat max from Washington but would motion for little if traded to a contender," Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports reported successful precocious July. "That is why not each root is convinced the Wizards will yet support him."

When Davis waste and acquisition rumors first emerged connected the eve of free agency, the Wizards quickly worked to unopen them down. A root told Andscape's Marc J. Spears astatine the clip that the Wizards had "no interest" successful trading Davis and were "not listening to offers for him."

Would that stance alteration if Davis demands a afloat four-year max hold connected Aug. 6? The ramifications could beryllium felt leaguewide if so.

Should The Wizards Give Davis A Full Max?

Davis turned 33 successful mid-March. He played successful only 71 of a imaginable 164 regular-season games complete the past 2 years, though he averaged 23.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 blocks per crippled erstwhile healthy.

Davis has missed astatine slightest 15 games successful 9 of his 14 NBA seasons. He’s played successful astatine slightest 70 games only 3 times. The closest affinity present would beryllium Joel Embiid, to whom the Philadelphia 76ers gave a three-year, $187.9 cardinal hold that promptly aged for illustration beverage connected the aboveground of the sun.

Davis is heading into his age-33 campaign, which intends this hold will screen his age-34 done age-37 seasons. If the Wizards can't spot him to enactment patient complete that stretch—and location is nary logic for them to expect otherwise—then giving him a afloat max hold that originates astatine 35% of the net headdress has the imaginable to upend their chances of building astir No. 1 wide prime AJ Dybantsa.

The Wizards could effort to talk Davis into taking little than a max, possibly by pointing to the sacrifice San Antonio Spurs wunderkind Victor Wembanyama recently made. Although if O'Connor's sources are correct, Davis won't beryllium amenable to that transportation from Washington.

That would time off the Wizards pinch a determination to make.

Further up the Eastern seaboard, the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Sixers this offseason for what many recovered to beryllium an underwhelming haul for a subordinate of his caliber. Celtics president of hoops operations Brad Stevens later explained that the team's "path looked a small spot much challenging pinch 70% of our headdress and specified a precocious percent of our usage tied into 2 players."

The Wizards besides signed Trae Young to a four-year, $212.8 cardinal hold this offseason that's projected to beryllium worthy astir 30% of the headdress each year. They wouldn't person 70% of the headdress tied up by 2 players, but Davis and Young would gobble up astir 65% of the headdress if the Wizards springiness Davis a afloat max extension.

Thanks to Davis, Young and Dybantsa, the Wizards are poised to level up this year. After winning only 17 games past season, their existent over/under connected regular-season wins is 32.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook. However, they besides request to beryllium mindful of their semipermanent financial outlook.

If 2023 No. 7 wide prime Bilal Coulibaly doesn’t motion an hold this offseason, he’ll beryllium a restricted free supplier adjacent summer. Alex Sarr, whom the Wizards selected 2nd wide successful 2024, is group to go extension-eligible adjacent offseason. The Wizards besides person 2025 No. 6 wide prime Tre Johnson to relationship for, though he still has 3 years near connected his rookie deal.

Perhaps the Wizards scheme connected keeping Davis astir until the costs of their young players explodes. But fixed wherever the Wizards are arsenic an statement and what shape of his profession that Davis is in, it's adjacent to wonderment whether that's successful their champion interest.

Where Could Davis Go?

O'Connor reported the "popular mentation astir the league" was that LeBron James was "slow-playing his decision" successful free agency "to spot if immoderate of his suitors could find a measurement to land" Davis aliases Kyrie Irving. According to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, "league sources told [ESPN's Shams] Charania and Anthony Slater that a Warriors pursuit of Davis could beryllium utilized arsenic a motivational maneuver to lure James to Golden State."

Now that LeBron has chosen to motion pinch the Sixers, that mentation is moot. But could a Davis waste and acquisition person akin trickle-down effects for different star? After all, James wouldn't beryllium a Sixer correct now had they not traded for Brown earlier this summer.

The Warriors are the only squad to person been publically linked to Davis to date. Logan Murdock of The Ringer reported that "a mini contingent of Golden State's beforehand office" pushed for them to waste and acquisition Jimmy Butler and draught picks for Davis, but his "injury history and desire for a caller hold yet convinced squad brass to enactment put."

Given Davis' age, wounded history and looming extension, it wouldn't make consciousness for a rebuilding squad to get him. A fistful of title hopefuls could make consciousness arsenic imaginable Davis landing spots, though.

After flipping Brown for Paul George—and catching a ton of flak for it—would the Celtics see cashing successful George’s statement and draught superior to brace Davis pinch Jayson Tatum? Could the Spurs envision Davis arsenic the missing portion alongside Wembanyama that tin thief put them complete the top? (That would apt person to beryllium a three-team woody pinch De'Aaron Fox going location different than Washington.) Might the Detroit Pistons see a larger shakeup if they suffer crushed successful the East?

The Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets some person intriguing young cores, though financial unit will unit the Magic to statesman breaking isolated as soon arsenic the 2027-28 season. Might either squad look to accelerate their title model by acquiring Davis? If so, some person plentifulness of large contracts to connection to Washington successful return.

If Davis declines his $62.8 cardinal subordinate action for the 2027-28 season, he'll beryllium eligible to motion an hold each season. The Wizards mightiness not consciousness compelled to widen him earlier he moreover plays a crippled for them. But really will Davis return to that?

The NBA has gone mostly quiet since LeBron announced that he was joining the Sixers, but Davis' upcoming hold talks could beryllium different flash constituent successful a chaotic offseason.

Unless different noted, each stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass aliases Basketball Reference. All net accusation via Spotrac and salary-cap accusation via RealGM. All likelihood via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Follow Bryan connected Bluesky.