The Washington Wizards are expected to engage in meaningful contract extension negotiations during the upcoming 2026-27 regular season
After months of debate, the time has arrived for the Washington Wizards to ultimately decide on the future of veteran forward Anthony Davis now that he's eligible to sign a new four year deal worth up to $275 million. Still, it may be a waiting game until this is truly resolved.
Days after Ben Standig reported the same, Josh Robbins of The Athletic also noted that the expectation is the Wizards hold off on a contract extension with the expectation that "any meaningful talks" between the Wizards and Anthony Davis materialize during the upcoming 2026-27 regular season -- and not prior.
How much the decision to hold off ultimately alters the length and annual value of the contract may be its own discussion, but holding off on an extension may be easily viewed as the ideal situation for the Wizards.
Davis has yet to make his debut with the team after general manager Will Dawkins noted the Wizards would remain patient with the ten-time All Star after he was acquired ahead of the trade deadline. As the on-court product remained focused on prioritizing draft standing, which materialized in the top overall pick that was spent on AJ Dybantsa, Davis found himself in the headlines with back and forth comments regarding his interest in Washington. Still, Davis has appeared in nearly half the number of games he has missed over the last two seasons to add the 33 year old's injury history, which Robbins reported has left Wizards officials with questions about his availability.
Davis also suited up in just 29 of the 83 games he spent with the Dallas Mavericks, adding to the question marks.
The caveat by holding off on a contract extension is Davis will enter year two of his $175 million deal with a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season. With a chance to decline the option and earn the max $275 million on a four year deal, whether an extension ultimately does come to fruition during the season could be worth monitoring through the trade deadline with the upcoming regular season a chance for Davis to quiet concerns about his lack of availability.
With a longer waiting game likely decided before resolving Davis' future in Washington, maybe the final remaining question for the front office to now answer ahead of the start of the regular season is the final roster spot with the belief that the Wizards turn to a veteran point guard to round out the rotation.
