Amid consistent chatter about whether Anthony Davis will play in DC, why embracing the Washington Wizards' foundation is his best route in 2026-27.
The Washington Wizards will be able to add the next signature piece to the 2026-27 roster when the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft materializes on Tuesday, June 23. Yet there's been another consistent storyline that has remained through the offseason with, at one point, what seemed like daily reports on veteran forward Anthony Davis.
Davis himself poured fuel on the fire after noting his desire to compete for championships now across multiple interviews. The vast majority of the national media have kept the fire going into June with Zach Harper adding, "at least right now he's on the team, he's legally an employee" when asked if Davis actually suits up for the Wizards. Others have shifted into mock trade mode with some outlets projecting trades that lands the Wizards players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, while others have paired Davis with LeBron James or even Steph Curry in long shot ideas that are distant from reality.
Yet there's another side of the equation for Washington that hasn't been addressed as much when it comes to trade discussions: Davis's trade value.
While the accolades speak for themselves, Davis has missed 93 games since the start of the 2024-25 season, which translates to being unavailable for 56.7% of all games. Since being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers back on Feb. 2, 2025, Davis has missed a staggering 74.7% of games.
Even as Davis has dropped his not-so-subtle hints that maybe Washington isn't his preferred destination, general manager Will Dawkins has been consistent about the fact that Davis is part of the team's plans with a chance for the ten-time All Star to be a key part of the turnaround alongside Trae Young and the top overall pick with a young supporting cast with potential.
Washington may be shifting to playoff than championship mode in 2026-27, but for a veteran with availability concerns on a max contract, it's not a stretch to say actually suiting up for the Wizards offers him the best path to maximizing his value.
Whether the noise - or tune from the front office - changes closer to the trade deadline is another question, but Davis has an opportunity to step back into a feature role and quiet noise about ongoing durability concerns. Davis admitted his preference is to play the four after his trade from Los Angeles, meaning he's stepping into a perfect pairing in DC alongside year three of Alex Sarr. The expected starting tandem complement each other on the floor while testing defenses, one through the five spot, between the blend of perimeter and low post scoring options.
For now, embracing his role as part of the Wizards' foundation may be his best path ahead of the rest of the summer.
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