The NBA’s new league year begins next week, with free agency ‘legal tampering’ beginning on Wednesday, and we’ve already seen some blockbuster trades agreed to or deals reported.
Anthony Davis could fall into either bucket for the Wizards, with the latest rumors that the Warriors are interested in bringing in AD and LeBron James to team with Steph Curry – but on Friday,
“It depends on what you want to take on, and what they’re prioritizing for positional fit – you could be able to het players who could play but their contracts are not so great, or draft picks if you wanted to, but I think we’ve moved out of that phase of this rebuild. I think it would be if they’re moving Davis, they want guys who can actually come in and help them win and play, and they’re probably going to have to be more of a power forward-type player.”
Smith said the Wizards have ‘guards and wings for days,’ so the priority would be more size to pair with Alex Sarr, and that’s something the Warriors don’t really have, which is part of why Kristaps Porzingis was re-signed, and the money Draymond Green just opted out of may go towards.
However, Smith also thinks that a trade conversation would only happen if Davis and the Wizards can’t come to a consensus on an extension, which he doesn’t see happening until later in the summer when Davis is actually eligible for an extension – but there’s a lot to look at there between now and then.
“You gotta be careful how much you lock into – how big of money, how long-term of money – with a player of that age and injury history,” Smith said. “If you don’t hear anything in the next month, I wouldn’t stress, but if that goes sideways, that’s where things could go a little rough with Davis, because he might have a conversation about getting somewhere else that wants him and is willing to pay him. But, the Wizards traded for him knowing that’s where things could go, and they definitely, I would assume, have all kinds of backup plans ready to go depending on how those negotiations shake out.”
In the end, though, Smith thinks that this pairing could indeed work out, and work out well.
“Everything since the trade has been that he would’ve preferred to be with a team closer to title contention, but he’s open to giving this deal a run with the Wizards. I think once they landed the No. 1 pick and added AJ Dybantsa, that became even more,” Smith said. “They have Trae Young, a running mate more on his level, and it’s not just him leading a bunch of kids – and these kids will grow up quick. There’s a lot of talent within that young group.”
