The Los Angeles Lakers avoided making Anthony Davis their true number one option, but the Washington Wizards now face the impossible task of keeping him healthy and making him their superstar as they try to contend. AD played next to LeBron James for his five-and-a-half-year tenure in Los Angeles. King James loved to say Davis was the face of the franchise, but fans know it was LeBron’s team. He was the alpha from the time AD arrived until the shocking Luka Doncic trade sent the future Hall of Famer to Dallas. Washington doesn’t have that luxury.
The Wizards traded for Trae Young, but fans saw what he can do as the alpha in Atlanta. The Hawks made the conference finals in 2021 and haven’t won a playoff series since. They missed the playoffs entirely in the last two seasons Young finished on their roster.
Washington hopes number one overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa grows into being their superstar, but the Wizards can’t bank on a teenage rookie if they want to contend in the suddenly crowded Eastern Conference. That leaves just one option, but the Wizards will quickly find out why the Lakers traded AD before he became their number one.
Anthony Davis’ injury history is concerning
AD has played just 29 of a possible 115 games since leaving the Lakers in February 2025. In his five full seasons in Los Angeles, Davis averaged just 54 games per year. The 33-year-old has dealt with several injuries in recent years, including a season-ending hand injury that prevented him from suiting up after being traded to the nation’s capital.
Banking on a veteran in his 15th NBA season to suddenly stay healthy in a massive role is dangerous. AD was the alpha next to rookie Cooper Flagg in Dallas last season. He played in just 20 of a possible 51 games before being traded to the Wizards.
The Wizards are waiting on a contract extension with Davis because they want to see him healthy. They know the 33-year-old is no longer a max player, especially in the second apron era. Injuries are a massive reason, but that is not all.
Lakers know Anthony Davis doesn’t want to play his best position
AD spent years asking for a center to play next to in Los Angeles, but the Lakers knew playing the five was his best position. Washington granted his request by acquiring Deandre Ayton from the Lakers. That trade was for Davis. Now, Alex Sarr and Ayton can eat up the minutes at the five, while AD plays the four.
Teams always try to keep their superstars happy. The Lakers ditched LeBron James and built their entire roster around Luka Doncic this summer. The problem with AD is he puts himself and the team at a disadvantage playing the four.
Davis is a two-way force and future Hall of Famer, but he is a career 29.5 percent 3-point shooter. He isn’t stretching the floor, and the Wizards don’t have a center that can consistently make jumpers. They will have two big men clogging the paint and bogging down their offense.
The Lakers built the team around LeBron for just this reason. They struggled to get the shooting and defense the franchise needed after the 2020 title, but King James had plenty of say over the roster. Further proof that he was the alpha.
The Los Angeles Lakers happily avoided making Anthony Davis their superstar, but the Washington Wizards don’t have a choice. Trae Young is not the answer, and AJ Dybantsa needs time to grow. AD is the alpha in the nation’s capital. His injury history and desire to play the four make it nearly impossible for this to work the way the Wizards planned. Washington wants to contend, but likely ends the year in disappointment.
Lakers fans aren’t looking back. They flipped AD for Luka Doncic and figure to be contenders for years to come. Hopefully, Davis stays healthy and dominates in DC, but that is wishful thinking at this stage of his career.
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