Anthony Davis can officially sign a contract extension with the Wizards, but don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.
Despite becoming extension eligible on August 6, Washington and Davis have mutually decided to hold off on serious negotiations until after the season gets underway.
Both sides are expected to revisit extension talks during the 2026-27 campaign rather than before opening night, according to The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins,
“League sources who were granted anonymity to speak freely told The Athletic that any meaningful talks between Davis and the Wizards about a possible extension will occur during the 2026-27 season, not before,” Robbins wrote.
Robbins added that Davis’ extension eligibility is “a bit of a red herring,” suggesting the 2026-27 trade deadline could ultimately prove to be the bigger date to watch.
ESPN’s Shams Charania shed more light on the thinking behind the decision, revealing the delay was agreed upon by both sides.
“Sources tell me that the Wizards and Anthony Davis have mutually decided to table potential contract extension talks and revisit it and wait until they’re into the regular season for that and see where the team is at. And one source described it to me as essentially an ability for both sides to allow the first 20 games or so to ‘marinate’ and allow both sides to get to a decision on whether there will be a contract extension or not,” the NBA insider noted.
“There are unanswered questions for both sides. Anthony Davis, for him, there’s the unknown of how the team looks this year, how competitive the Wizards will be, their playing style, and also the future direction of the Wizards. And for the Wizards, there are questions about Anthony Davis’ health, how he performs, and their ability to take the next step and make that jump.”
The uncertainty goes both ways.
For Davis, the opening stretch of the season will provide a clearer picture of where the Wizards are headed and whether the franchise is in a position to contend in the coming years.
Washington, meanwhile, will use that same period to evaluate Davis’ durability and overall impact.
The 10-time All-Star turned 33 in March and has reached the 70-game mark in a season just three times across his 14-year NBA career.
Even if both sides get off to a strong start, Robbins believes a new deal is far from guaranteed.
“Even if the 2026-27 season starts well for Davis and for the team, it’s reasonable to speculate that both sides could find themselves far apart on a potential extension,” Robbins wrote.
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