Wizards Now Have a Motivated -- And Healthy -- Anthony Davis

The Wizards and Anthony Davis have reportedly decided to revisit extension talks during the season rather than immediately committing to a four year deal worth roughly $275 million, which is music to Wizards fans' ears. Honestly, this is the best possible outcome for Washington. It eliminates the immediate pressure of handing Davis what could have been an albatross of a contract and instead gives the Wizards a chance to see exactly what they have in him first. Rather than committing nearly $275 million based on reputation and a sample size, Washington can let Davis prove that he is healthy, still elite, and deserving of that kind of pay day.

Now with that being resolved, the Wizards now find themselves with something potentially dangerous, a healthy Anthony Davis with something to prove. Think about the combination Washington has here. Davis is a future Hall of Famer, a top 75 player of all time and one of the most talented two way big men of his generation. He is also entering the later stages of his prime, and he has a massive financial incentive to remind the NBA exactly what he is capable of. Davis has dealt with significant injury issues over the last few seasons. He played only 20 games last year and just 51 the season before that. So what do we have heading into this season? A motivated Hall of Fame talent who has been given plenty of time to recover, who needs to prove that the injury concerns are behind him, and who now has to show the Wizards, and the rest of the NBA, that he is still worthy of a massive extension. Lethal combination. 

Here's the thing, Davis wasn't exactly washed when he was on the floor last season. Despite appearing in only 20 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 50.6% from the field. That's still elite two way production. His defensive numbers are especially ridiculous. Davis averaged 2.8 combined steals and blocks per game, which are elite numbers for a big man.

The advanced numbers back it up. Davis posted a 21.5 PER, a 27.2% usage rate, a 23.2% defensive rebound rate and a 9.9% offensive rebound rate. When he played, he was still producing like an elite player. His production in those 20 games is really encouraging because we're not talking about a player who simply looked good in only certain aspects of the game. He was consistently contributing as a scorer, rebounder, rim protector and defensive playmaker while still carrying a substantial offensive workload.

But here's perhaps the biggest reason I'm optimistic about Davis in Washington, he doesn't need to average 25 points anymore. This is an underrated advantage. Davis doesn't have to carry the entire offense anymore. Washington has multiple young players who can drop 20 on any given night, which allows Davis to focus on what he does best, defend, rebound, screen, finish, protect the rim and make plays from the frontcourt. That could be incredibly important for his longevity and ability to withstand an 82 game season. Instead of asking a 33 year old Davis to carry an enormous offensive burden every night, Washington can use him as the ultimate two way weapon while allowing the younger players to shoulder more of the scoring responsibility.

And people seem to forget just how special Davis remains defensively. Last year he ranked in the 100th percentile in DRAPM, the 80th percentile in defensive stop percentage, the 92nd percentile in steals and the 89th percentile in blocks. That's a defensive anchor, and Washington desperately needed another one besides Sarr, who now add an imposing frontcourt tandem on the roster. The Wizards ranked 26th in the NBA in total rebounds and 26th in defensive rebounds last season. Davis has consistently been one of the league's better defensive rebounders, ranking in the 83rd percentile or higher in defensive rebounding percentage in every season of his career except one. Davis should dramatically change Washington's physicality and ability to end possessions.

So now, look at the bigger picture. The Wizards made a calculated decision at the trade deadline. They bought low on a Hall of Fame player who was dealing with injuries. Then June came around, a market started forming for Davis, and Washington didn't budge. They kept him. Now, instead of immediately giving Davis four years and roughly $275 million, the two sides are reportedly going to revisit the situation during the season. That means Davis has an opportunity to make his market much bigger. If he stays healthy and balls out, the Wizards may suddenly be looking at an entirely different version of the Anthony Davis market.

And Davis has every incentive to make that happen. He needs to prove he's healthy. He needs to prove he's still elite. He needs to prove he's worth the money. And Washington gets to reap the benefits. The Wizards may have a sleeping giant on their hands. Because if Anthony Davis stays healthy, plays 65 plus games and looks anything close to the player we know he can be, Washington isn't just getting a veteran star. They're getting their best player. And maybe, just maybe, the beginning of something much bigger.