The Washington Wizards are willing to wait before making Anthony Davis the centerpiece of their future. Davis, it appears, wants the same opportunity to evaluate Washington.
The two sides have mutually agreed to table contract extension talks until the regular season, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday on NBA Today. Davis is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $275 million, but neither party is prepared to make that commitment before seeing Washington’s rebuilt roster on the court.
One source told Charania the Wizards and Davis want to let the first 20 games “marinate” before deciding whether their partnership should continue through an extension or move toward something else.
That language matters. This is not necessarily a breakdown in negotiations. It is a mutual evaluation period between a franchise trying to make a dramatic leap in the Eastern Conference and a 33-year-old star who has yet to play a game in a Wizards uniform.
Anthony Davis’ Health Looms Over Extension Talks
Getty Anthony Davis of the Washington Wizards looks on from the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Washington acquired Davis from the Dallas Mavericks during the 2025-26 season, but ligament damage in his left hand and a groin issue prevented him from making his Wizards debut.
Davis appeared in only 20 games for Dallas, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks. He shot 50.6% from the field before his season ended.
The production remained substantial. The availability did not.
For Washington, that is the uncomfortable dividing line in any negotiation. A healthy Davis remains one of basketball’s most disruptive defenders, an elite rebounder and a gifted interior scorer. But a $275 million commitment would carry him deep into his 30s, making his ability to stay on the court as important as anything he does while on it.
Davis also has questions that cannot be answered during offseason workouts. According to Charania, he wants to see how competitive Washington can be, how he fits into its playing style and whether the organization’s long-term direction aligns with the final stage of his prime.
Washington’s Rebuilt Core Faces an Early Test
The Wizards are attempting a difficult jump after finishing 17-65 and last in the East. They have since committed $212 million to Trae Young, selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick and added Davis and Deandre Ayton to a young core already featuring Alex Sarr.
Sarr’s presence adds another dimension to Washington’s frontcourt and another question for the coaching staff. His mobility, improving perimeter game and defensive range could make him a natural complement to Davis. Ayton offers a more traditional interior presence, but finding enough minutes and spacing for all three big men will require creativity.
Young and Davis should form a dangerous pick-and-roll partnership. Young’s shooting range can stretch opposing defenses, while Davis remains a devastating lob target. Sarr’s ability to operate away from the rim could preserve driving lanes for Dybantsa and allow Davis to spend more time in his most effective areas.
The opening month will reveal whether Washington’s talent fits together as neatly on the court as it does on a roster sheet.
Davis is under contract for 2026-27 and holds a player option for the following season, so Washington does not face an immediate deadline. But delaying the decision introduces another possibility. If the Wizards stumble, Davis struggles physically or either side becomes uncomfortable with the fit, trade discussions could eventually replace extension talks.
For now, both sides are betting that patience will produce clarity. Washington’s first 20 games will be more than an introduction to its rebuilt roster.
They will be Davis’ audition for the Wizards and the Wizards’ audition for Davis.
Wizards Make Major Anthony Davis Decision on $275 Million Extension