Anthony Davis has a new landing spot after getting traded to the Washington Wizards in a deadline eve stunner.
In the weeks leading up to the deadline, rumors suggested that Davis had a shot at staying in Dallas until the offseason at least. The Mavericks ended up coming up with different plans. Now, Davis has a lot to think about regarding his future.
When it became clear that Davis was open to a change of scenery, not even one year after getting moved to the Mavs, it was apparent that Davis wanted to find his next long-term home. Ideally, for a one-time champion in his 30s with plenty of experience, Davis wants to help a team contend for a title. The Wizards just haven’t been there in years.
Davis had to clear up rumors last Friday, as it was suggested he was unhappy with the move to Washington. The veteran center pushed back, claiming he said no such thing.
However, he did have an interesting perspective on the situation during his phone call with The Athletic. Davis reiterated his desire to contend on record. Sitting in DC, the home of a basketball team with a 14-38 record, isn’t exactly ideal. The Wizards will have to work to sell Davis on the vision—but he’s definitely all ears.
“I need to talk with Will, Ted, Zach, and kind of figure out what the actual plan is, and then just kind of go from there,” Davis told The Athletic.
“…Obviously, at this time, every year, you want to compete for championships and stuff like that. That’s obviously the main focus, getting to that place. Conversations are going to be held to see about getting to that space. I’ve been everywhere the last two years. I want to see the plan, hear the plan, see the vision. Bringing Trae (Young) here and other things in store, what they’re thinking of doing, I want to have those conversations with them and see what happens. The city is obviously phenomenal.”
The Wizards are a young team, and haven’t had the chance to utilize the former All-Star, Trae Young, just yet. Similar to Davis, Young is nursing an injury, which has him sidelined for an unknown period of time.
It’s clear they have a vision to turn it all around. Making two win-now trades in season was a clear signal that after this year’s draft, the Wizards are changing their expectations. It’s one thing to talk about it—it’s another to execute. Like it or not, Davis will have to do his part to help it all come together.
When healthy, Davis is one of the best two-way players in the front court. As long as his health can hold up, Davis could help the Wizards gain a much better look in 2026-2027. While he’s got an open mind, the Wizards could continue to flash some strong moves in the upcoming offseason.
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