Anthony Davis getting shut down for remainder of season: What’s subsequent for Wizards’ large man?

Anthony Davis will not be showing in one other NBA sport till the 2026-27 season, as he is anticipated to be sidelined for the remainder of this 12 months to concentrate on getting wholesome from hand and groin points, per Chris Haynes.

Davis was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 4 in what was a surprising transfer given the lackluster return Dallas acquired for him. Nonetheless, it was clear the Mavs had been promoting low on Davis in an effort to quick monitor the Cooper Flagg period. It closed a chapter the place Davis’ presence served as a painful reminder of what Dallas gave up — Luka Doncic — to get him within the first place.

Davis will now be part of one other rebuilding group within the Wizards, although we can’t see the newly fashioned duo of him and Trae Younger (who Washington additionally acquired forward of the deadline) till subsequent season. Davis has been out since Jan. 10 after struggling ligament injury in his left hand, so it was anticipated that he would proceed to overlook a while. Nonetheless, whereas he was nonetheless with the Mavericks, the group’s phrasing urged he may return this season. There have been even conflicting studies about Davis needing surgical procedure to restore the ligament injury. In the end, after searching for a second opinion, he opted to not, which left the door open for a return on the finish of February or March.

Now, although, it seems the Wizards aren’t chancing any additional harm threat to their new star ahead. Though we can’t see Davis in sport motion till subsequent season, he is already attempting to set the report straight earlier than even taking the court docket.

Within the speedy aftermath of the commerce, there was some suggestion that Davis would not be completely satisfied to be becoming a member of the Wizards. Given Washington hasn’t made the playoffs in 5 years and has solely made it previous the primary spherical 4 occasions within the final 26 years, actually one may assume that an ageing 10-time All-Star who nonetheless needs to compete for championships would not be enthused by the thought.

However Davis is specializing in the positives as he joins a Wizards group that wishes to compete subsequent season.

“The go to’s been nice,” Davis stated of his first go to with the Wizards by way of The Athletic. “They positively welcomed me with open arms, spent a while with [team owner] Ted [Leonsis] and [president] Zach [Leonsis]. It’s very completely different from what they make it appear. I do know it is like, ‘Oh, they’ve the stigma of they don’t seem to be an excellent group.’ I have never seen the apply facility but, however the area is prime notch, world class for certain. Seen the cooks and the way they deal with the households. It has been nice.”

When requested concerning the outdoors assumption that he was sad with the place he landed within the commerce, Davis stated, “They stated I stated a whole lot of stuff within the different metropolis, too, that I did not say.”

However so far as his long-term future with the Wizards, Davis is not making any type of commitments or guarantees simply but.

“It is laborious to say [I would definitely stay in D.C.] with out the right plan,” Davis stated. “Clearly, it is robust proper now with the group. It reveals with their report, however including sure items that may change. It is 12 months by 12 months. They simply beat the No. 1 group within the East.”

Davis has two years left on his present contract, together with a $62.7 million participant possibility for the 2027-28 season. One of many causes that the Mavericks traded Davis was as a result of they weren’t too eager on extending the oft-injured large man who will likely be 34 by the point his present contract is up. Davis has been searching for an extension, and studies previous to the commerce indicated that his agent, Wealthy Paul, would’ve most popular Davis be traded elsewhere, as he believed the Mavericks weren’t going to offer him one.

However now that Davis has been traded to the Wizards, a group not precisely related to a successful tradition, talks about an extension could also be placed on the again burner. A minimum of till Davis sees Washington is dedicated to constructing a contending group.

“I would like to speak with [general manager] Will Dawkins, Ted, Zach, and form of work out what the precise plan is, after which simply form of go from there,” Davis stated. “I talked briefly [Friday] with Will. Clearly, at the moment, yearly, you need to compete for championships and stuff like that. That is clearly the principle focus, attending to that place. Conversations are going to be held to see about attending to that house. I have been all over the place the final two years. I need to see the plan, hear the plan, see the imaginative and prescient. Bringing Trae [Young] right here and different issues in retailer, what they’re pondering of doing, I need to have these conversations with them and see what occurs. Town is clearly phenomenal.”

On paper, the Wizards will definitely have a greater product on the ground subsequent 12 months than they do at the moment. The pick-and-roll partnership between Davis and Younger ought to create a potent offense, and having Davis to mentor Alex Sarr ought to do wonders for his continued growth. However because it has been for the previous couple of seasons with Davis, all of that may drastically depend upon his well being. 

At his peak, Davis is without doubt one of the finest two-way large males within the league. An All-Defensive ahead who can simply provide you with 20+ factors on the opposite finish. However we’ve not seen that model of him since he was traded to Dallas. Maybe one other change of surroundings will get him again to his All-Star, All-Defensive methods, and he and Younger can lead the Wizards to the playoffs subsequent season.