Tyler Rourke Tyler Rourke
Anthony Davis’ time with the Washington Wizards may be over before he even suits up. Davis had a few rocky years where he dealt with multiple injuries before he was shockingly a part of the Luka Doncic trade, which sent him to the Dallas Mavericks.
He played in just 29 total games with Dallas before being shipped to the nation’s capital. When the Wizards acquired the 10-time All-Star, the media and fans saw it as Washington looking to compete again. They acquired Trae Young months earlier and have a developing young roster. Now, a couple of months later, it is reported that he may be hinting to the Wizards that he wants to be traded. According to a report by Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, he is “already dropping not so subtle hints that he wants out.”
While he may have a reputation of being a banged-up veteran, there is no denying that when healthy, he can be an impactful player. If the rumors prove to be true, let’s take a look at a few teams that could benefit from trading for the star big man.
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors made a big leap this year, landing the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their one obvious flaw was their center rotation, and Jakob Poeltl was not what they wanted him to be. Trading for him would open up minutes for Collin Murray-Boyles, a rookie forward with tons of potential.
Normally, the 19th pick in a draft wouldn’t mean this much to a team. However, for Toronto, they will be looking to draft a player they can give minutes to immediately. Whether it’s a true center or a scorer off the bench, Toronto likely won’t trade out of this pick. That means all it takes for this trade to work is sending Poeltl and RJ Barrett to Washington.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are in a bit of a tough spot, and likely won’t move away from Devin Booker. However, they outperformed many people’s expectations this year despite being swept in the first round. At this point, Jalen Green hasn’t been what people thought he could become. Green is still just 24 years old, and Washington may be able to buy low on him.
It would take Green, Royce O’Neale, and Oso Ighodaro to get the trade done. Washington has been known to buy low on young players like this. They did this notably with Cam Whitmore and Jaden Hardy, and Green could be next. Phoenix would stay competitive in a time when they don’t have their own draft capital and could bolster their frontcourt.
Charlotte Hornets
If the Charlotte Hornets were not in the same division as the Wizards, they would be the number one spot for Davis to land. That likely won’t stop them from trying to acquire him. Charlotte is in a unique situation where they are looking to compete with a young core, and all they need is an established center.
For this trade to work, Charlotte would part ways with Miles Bridges, Josh Green, and Tidjane Salaun. In return, they would get the Wizards’ big man and Justin Champagnie. Davis would be the perfect defensive anchor for this young core, and an amazing third or fourth scoring option.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves ran into a problem these playoffs. That problem sprouted from Julius Randle and his inconsistent play. To mix things up, they would certainly be open to a trade that sent Rudy Gobert and DiVincenzo to Washington for Davis. It would keep their defense strong while offering another scoring option.
Washington’s core is so young right now, and could use the veteran defensive mindset to anchor the front court. If DiVincenzo can return later this season, he would be a nice addition for the bench.
