With Anthony Davis entering the final year of his current deal before a player option, the Washington Wizards are officially on the hook for negotiating an extension with the star big man. Those talks have been paused, according to Shams Charania. One of the main reasons for hesitancy? Health.
Charania: "There are questions about Anthony Davis's health, how he performs and their ability to take the next step. ... Once they move past the unknowns, that'll give both sides the ability to decide whether this relationship will go toward an extension or potentially something else."
The troubling reality for the Wizards' gamble here is that Davis has not enjoyed a truly healthy season since he was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2023-24, the former Lakers star played a career-high 76 regular season games. That allow the Lakers to sell high in the Luka Doncic trade.
Davis only managed 29 regular season games during his Dallas Mavericks tenure. That positioned the Wizards to swoop in and buy low on the former NBA champion. For Washington to feel good about their coup of Davis and grant the extension he is looking for, they will need a return to his Lakers form.
Wizards need the healthy version of Anthony Davis that Lakers got glimpses of
There was always a slight sense of terror for Lakers fans whenever Davis would hit the deck hard. Those moments immediately invited concerns of whether this was the instance that would suddenly put their star big back into street clothes.
Even with that being true, Davis did have timeliness with his availability that benefitted the Lakers. The lead-up to the Doncic trade was already addressed, but the 2020 championship was the most important instance of the Lakers star being available and dominant when it mattered most.
There is no 2020 ring in Los Angeles without Davis having a healthy regular season campaign and following that up with 21 elite playoff games. The former Laker performed at the level of a top-five player in the NBA that season.
The Wizards cannot be expecting that version of Davis to walk through the door at this stage of his career, but there is a roll of the dice on him still being a top-20 star in the league, if health permits it. Seeing that come to pass would give them comfort in making a financial commitment to him.
Granted, Davis delivering good health next season does not guarantee anything long-term. The unfortunate reality for him is that injuries have always kept him from hitting a higher all-time ceiling than what was possible. The Wizards, who have missed the playoffs for five years in a row, may be willing to settle for a brief glimmer of hope, though.
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