NBA insider Chris Haynes recently reported that Anthony Davis, who was traded from Dallas to Washington last week, was expected miss the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign to recover from hand and groin injuries. Citing a league source, The Athletic confirmed that the Wizards big man was unlikely to play again this season.
However, general manager Will Dawkins said on Sunday that he anticipates Davis making his Wizards debut this season, though a return timeline won’t be established until the All-Star break (Twitter video link via Bijan Todd of Monumental Sports Network).
“The plan for AD right now is to go back to Dallas and finish his rehab,” Dawkins said. “He has a really good team down there. Our doctors met with them, and our medical staff’s going to go down with him. So we want to keep that good thing going that he has.
“During All-Star break, he takes another visit for a doctor. And that’s a big appointment for us to kind of see where his progress is at. And after that, after (the) All-Star break, he’ll return to D.C. and be here with the team.”
According to David Aldridge and Josh Robbins of The Athletic, Dawkins said the Wizards think Trae Young (another trade acquisition) and Davis will help the team be more competitive next season.
“AD is a special player, a special talent,” Dawkins said. “He, obviously, opens up so much on offense because he demands double teams. He can score in different areas. Defensively, he’s been an anchor, rebounder, rim protector when you have him at the four (and) Alex (Sarr) at the five, protecting the paint. (With) Bilal (Coulibaly), Kyshawn (George), Jamir (Watkins), some of our elite wing defenders out there, we want to be long, we want to be athletic, we want to be able to protect the paint better than we have.”
Dawkins also provided an injury update on Young, per Ian Nicholas Quillen of The Associated Press. The four-time All-Star, who has yet to play for the Wizards after dealing with a right knee sprain and quad contusion with the Hawks, will be reevaluated during the break.
“He’s still working on the court,” Dawkins said. “He started doing 1-on-0, he started doing a little bit of more 2-on-2 type actions. … He’s trending in a positive direction.”
They still lose even if he plays but I don’t see them taking chances on missing up lottery.
What is “a league source”? Someone who works for an NBA team? For the NBA itself? Too often these non-stories are supported by unattributed sources.
‘Name your source’ Jaylen Brown. Known this for 20 years before JB piped up.
Media are under instructions, have been since post MJ.
The three blind mise with whistles in their mouth are no different.
Nothing stops the money train.
Wizards owe Knicks 2026 pick top 8 protected. There’s no way they are giving that up. Unless Lord Sterling steps in ????
Best way to keep that pick is to sit Young and AD as much as you can. While he sits. Wizards should make AD add 15-20 lbs of muscle, Trae too. This can help AD with all those small nagging injuries. AD should try and help get Wizards back to playoffs. He is signed thru 2027-28. Get some dignity AD. Do right by Washington DC.
I don’t mind this plan, they can advertise his debut game and any of his handful of well-placed games. Washington has had zero elite superstars with a ring in recent years. AD is still plenty good, just made of glass. Some late season games to boost morale and to give the fans a taste is about par for the course.
The draft is a lottery now, so its not imperative teams lose as often as possible.
With that pick. Their young core group. Plus a committed AD and Trae. They should be a playoff team next year.
Man I wish we could get that pick. Never happen lol.
If Trae gained 20 pounds of muscle he could actually defend!
Trae — 6’ 2” 164lbs
Brunson — 6’ 2” 190lbs “Big Body Brunson”
Definitely lol 20lbs of muscle ….
By march they will lock in bottom 3 and play him and tre to get him and the fans excited. It we’ll also give them time to evaluate and see what they need to bring around them as far as veterans. They’ll have four young players and the rest of the team will be a mix of mid year players as in three to four or five year players and veterans
That pick is big lol. AD and Trae give the young guys The swagger to play to win. Good for the city.
I don’t think he’s entirely lying here, as I’m sure they do want to get a look at how AD and Trae look playing with the kids and vice-versa. And, of course, the earlier they get can get that chemistry working, the better their chances of convincing both to stay and extend (moreso AD since Trae seemingly just wants to get paid and do his thing), and to even feel comfortable doing that. It’s not like they gave up a ton to acquire either guy so if it doesn’t work out they should have no issues letting them walk/moving them purely as a rental.
Of course, I’m sure that even if and when they do come back there will be a lot of rest games. But as Buckets implied above, that’s maybe part of the reason why they’ve gone into supernova tank mode recently: move heaven and earth to lose as many games as possible until they return, then give them some games here and there to get the ball rolling.
Orrrrrr maybe they don’t come back and I’m projecting because I need AD to come back for the fantasy playoffs lol.
For what it’s worth…I expect the wife to come home with Jessica Alba and Halle Berry?
I think Wiz will be good next season.
Just let him fully heal until next season.