Anthony Davis‘ future has been at the center of the trade rumors this offseason, as a few contenders have explored ways of adding the veteran big man. But according to his agent, Rich Paul, there isn’t much mystery about where Davis will be playing next season.
Speaking on the Game Over podcast, Paul shut down the idea that Davis is on his way out of Washington.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t he play for the Wizards?”
It was a simple answer but carried weight.
His comments come at a time when trade rumors have linked Davis to several contenders for weeks. The Golden State Warriors are one of the most aggressive pursuers, as they looked to land Davis to lure LeBron James in free agency.
Even after re-signing Kristaps Porzingis, they could use another elite frontcourt player, and Davis is an elite option. Last season, he averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 50.6% from the field.
That’s still All-Star-level production.
But landing him has never been simple. The Wizards have placed an enormous asking price on Davis. And why wouldn’t they?
The Wizards landed Davis in a blockbuster trade from the Dallas Mavericks at the deadline last season, and he has yet to play a game for them. They want to build a team around him and Trae Young and are looking to make a playoff push.
The Wizards president has already stated that Davis wants to remain with the Wizards, and Rich Paul’s comments only reinforce the message. Unless something changes dramatically over the coming weeks, the expectation is that Davis will begin the 2026-27 season with the Wizards.
But that doesn’t mean trade rumors will die down. Davis reportedly will seek a new maximum extension worth a four-year, $275 million deal, which is one of his priorities. Any team considering a trade must take that into account.
Rich Paul’s comments don’t eliminate the possibility of a future trade. We have seen several situations around the NBA where a player commits to a team, sometimes even publicly, before circumstances change later.
As of right now, there doesn’t appear to be much momentum toward a Davis deal. But that hasn’t been ruled out by the Wizards’ side either. Considering the Wizards’ public stance, Davis’ desire to stay, and the steep asking price, the Wizards are planning to keep their superstar for the foreseeable future.
Until there’s movement from either side, the trade rumors may continue, but Davis’ circle has sent out a clear message: Expect Davis to suit up for the Wizards when the season begins.
