Washington Wizards’ Michael Winger Offers Optimism On Anthony Davis’s Future

Anthony Davis‘s long-term future with the Washington Wizards has been a talking point since he arrived in a February trade, but Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger offered a reason for optimism this week, indicating the star big man wants to be part of what Washington is building.

Speaking with NBC Sports’ JP Finlay, Winger described his conversations with Davis as productive and said the 10-time All-Star has expressed “a strong interest in being part of what we’re building.”

“My conversations with AD are delightful. He’s a pro’s pro,” Winger said. “He understands who he is in this league, he understands the direction of this league, he understands what we’re trying to do organizationally.”

Winger added that Davis understands the organization’s direction and shares the goal of competing for something significant.

“He’s communicated to me a strong interest in being part of what we’re building,” he said. “He, like the rest of us, wants to be on a really good basketball team and compete for something big. That’s our aim, that’s what we want to do, and I’m delighted that Anthony’s here for that.”

Anthony Davis’s Path to Washington Runs Through Dallas

Davis landed in Washington as part of the fallout from one of the league’s wildest stretches. He was the centerpiece of the return the Dallas Mavericks received for Luka Dončić in February 2025, and was then dealt again a year later, when Dallas shipped him to the Wizards in a multi-team deal built to clear room around rookie Cooper Flagg.

Davis appeared in just 29 games as a Maverick because of injuries, and Washington took on his contract, which pays $58.5 million next season with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.

League sources told Dallas Hoops Journal in February that Davis had real doubts about the Wizards as a landing spot after being traded there. It’s understandable given that they had the league’s worst record and that, at 33, he’s frequently talked about wanting to win another championship. He publicly acknowledged questions about the team’s path to contention, which is part of why his future became a storyline.

Landing with the Wizards was not only a surprise to Davis, but also to multiple rival teams connected to the 10-time All-Star, who, leading up to the deadline, did not have Washington on their radar. Now, the team is set to add AJ Dybantsa using the No. 1 pick on Tuesday.

Why the Washington Wizards Are Optimistic

Winger’s comments suggest those concerns have eased, at least for now. Washington has paired Davis with four-time All-Star Trae Young, acquired from Atlanta earlier in the season, and holds the No. 1 pick in next week’s draft along with a young core the front office believes can grow quickly.

Davis is also eligible to sign a four-year extension worth up to $275 million in August, making his buy-in a key piece of the team’s offseason. For a franchise that has spent years searching for direction, keeping a motivated Davis alongside Young and a top pick would mark real progress.

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