Since acquiring Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the February trade deadline, there has been considerable speculation that the Washington Wizards would move him this offseason. Given that earlier reports indicated that this interest in parting ways was mutual, several trade rumors have linked Davis to different teams around the league.
A player of Anthony Davis’ caliber is bound to generate some interest in the trade market. On that note, teams like the Golden State Warriors emerged as legitimate suitors for the 10-time All-Star, too. While the Wizards’ asking price for Davis hinted at their interest in parting with him, during a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, Wizards GM Will Dawkins completely shut down all trade rumors involving the superstar big man.
When asked to address the plans with Anthony Davis, Dawkins responded:
“We kind of don’t worry too much about that stuff. AD is in DC. He wants to be in DC. We’re going to keep him there. I think the important thing for us is just building off the summer and kind of making sure we’re ready to go at the beginning of the year.”
“He was out here with all of our guys,” he continued. “We had every single one of our team members here in DC for Game 1. So we had all 17 guys on the roster here, and he was a big part of what we had going on working out, leading the group workouts for our veteran players.”
“So it’s been a fun summer, and we’ll have a conversation when we’re officially allowed to have a conversation. But the plan is to be big, to be strong, and to be skilled.”
Will Dawkins’ comments on Anthony Davis’ place on the roster left virtually no room for further trade speculation. With the Wizards displaying a commitment to building around their new core, it appears that Davis is equally committed to doing so.
In some ways, Davis’ interest in growing with Washington is also understandable.
For the first time in his career, Davis finds himself in a position to be the elder statesman on the roster. As a pivotal leadership figure and a key rotation piece, the 10-time All-Star wields considerable influence not only as a player but also as a mentor.
While this would be a burden in most cases, Washington boasts some incredibly talented young players on its roster. Among these, however, this year’s first overall pick, AJ Dybantsa, has been particularly noteworthy.
After putting on a show for his veteran teammates in his debut performance at the Las Vegas Summer League, Dybantsa ensured that the Wizards will be a team to keep an eye on during the regular season. With the trio of Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and AJ Dybantsa already looking formidable, Washington certainly has enough reason to be enthusiastic about its prospects in the upcoming season.
Anthony Davis’ inclination to build with the Wizards is commendable, but his availability could affect Washington’s stance. Should Davis struggle to stay healthy, the Wizards may see more merit in pivoting by offloading the 33-year-old. Hence, even though he brings a lot to the table, Washington can only hope he plays enough games to showcase his value.
