The Los Angeles Lakers traded Anthony Davis as part of the package to land Luka Doncic, which allowed the purple and gold to avoid the contract standoff the superstar is having with the Washington Wizards. AD is in the final guaranteed season of his deal, and he wants an extension near his $275 million max (subscription required). Davis is making that decision harder on the Wizards after two preseason games.
The 33-year-old went from 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block in 17 minutes in the opener against the defending champion Knicks. He followed it with ten points, 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks against the Pistons on Saturday night. AD was making plays all over the floor, including playing stout defense and catching a lob from number one overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa.
This is already a complicated situation. Davis wants a massive contract, but his age and injury history make that risky. The ten-time All-Star says he is comfortable waiting until after this season. That puts even more pressure on the Wizards. Now, AD is playing like the elite two-way talent that helped the Lakers win a title. There is no easy solution for Washington.
Anthony Davis is still elite when he’s on the floor
AD keeps putting up elite numbers. He averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks in 31.3 minutes per game last season. Davis only played in 20 contests with the Mavericks before a season-ending injury. Only a handful of superstars can come even close to matching that production.
Centers are at a premium in the modern NBA. The price goes up further for star-level talents. Davis was on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. He is already an all-time great and keeps putting up numbers.
The Wizards have seen what he can do in the first two preseason games. He looks healthy and created problems for the opposition in both games. AD can protect the rim, make plays, get buckets, and forces the other team to make difficult decisions. Washington is still a young team looking to jump back into contention. Davis makes that significantly easier.
The stats and eye test say AD is a max player when he’s on the floor, but the problem is the missed time.
Anthony Davis has lengthy injury history and isn’t eager to take discount
AD played 20 games last season. He has played the 65 games required to qualify for end-of-season awards just once in the last eight years. Davis averages less than 50 contests per season over that stretch. Expecting more than 50 games is a gamble.
AD is 33 years old. A new four-year contract would take him through his age 37 season. Davis struggles to stay healthy now. Things will only be worse in his upper 30s. The Wizards need him to be healthy to live up to his new deal.
Davis doesn’t want to take a discount, so things are complicated. He would be making over $68 million per season on a new max contract. That is over 35 percent of the salary cap.
Every dollar counts in the second apron era. The Wizards gave Trae Young a four-year, $212 million extension this summer. Their young core will quickly graduate off their rookie contracts, and spending questions will hit in the nation’s capital. Those only get worse if they are paying Davis $60-plus million per year.
This was always going to be a contentious extension talk with a player approaching his mid-30s. The Lakers were wisely bailed out of the discussions by Nico Harrison.
Lakers happily avoided Anthony Davis dilemma with Luka Doncic trade
The Mavericks wanted AD as the key piece of the return for Luka just months after Doncic led Dallas to the NBA Finals. It was arguably the biggest fleece in NBA history. Luka is one of the five best players in the world, and Davis may be a free agent next summer because his current team is unwilling to give him a max extension.
The Lakers dominated this trade without mentioning these extension talks. AD is only making things look better for LA. Davis isn’t even the piece of the trade Los Angeles should want back.
The Wizards have to decide what to do with Anthony Davis. They gave up five draft picks, including two first-rounders, to acquire him. That is a hefty price for one season, but extending him will come with significant risk. AD is healthy and making a massive impact, which further complicates the decision. There is no right answer. Either could backfire on Washington.
The Los Angeles Lakers are happy they don’t have to make this call on Anthony Davis. He is a special talent, but there is no telling how much AD will be on the floor. Luckily, this is someone else’s problem, as Luka Doncic has the Lakers looking like serious contenders. Just one more reason LA won this trade.
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