Anthony Davis has been at the center of trade chatter all summer long. But according to Washington Wizards general manager Will Dawkins, the 33–year–old big man isn’t looking for a way out.
Speaking to SiriusXM NBA Radio on Monday, Dawkins pushed back on the noise and made it clear the team isn’t treating Davis like a rental. “We kind of don’t worry too much about that stuff,” Dawkins said. “Like AD’s in D.C. and wants to be in D.C., we’re going to keep them there.”
That might sound like standard GM speak. But Dawkins didn’t stop there. He painted a picture of a guy already acting like a leader, not someone halfway out the door. Davis has been working out with teammates in D.C. this summer. He ran group workouts for the vets. The whole 17–man roster showed up for a team gathering. And Davis was front and center.
“It’ll be a fun summer,” Dawkins added. “Obviously, we’ll have a conversation when we’re allowed to officially have a conversation. But the plan is to be big and to be strong and to be skilled.”
Here’s the thing, though. Davis has never actually played a game in a Wizards uniform. He was traded mid–season from the Dallas Mavericks and then sat out the rest of the year with injuries. So the fanbase hasn’t seen what he can do alongside this roster. And until he’s out there in a meaningful game, the rumor mill isn’t going to shut down.
There’s also the business side of this. Davis is 33, with a history of nagging injuries and a massive contract. Any team thinking about trading for him would have to weigh risk against reward. But for now, the Wizards are acting like he’s their guy. Dawkins says conversations will happen when the league calendar allows, but the messaging is consistent: Davis wants to be here.
Whether that holds through the trade deadline or even through training camp is another question. But in July, at least, the noise is coming from outside the building.
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