It's about to go down... - HUGE Anthony Davis Extension Report

It's about to go down with Anthony Davis eligible to sign his extension this Thursday, August 6th. We have a pretty significant update on the ask for the contract and when AD is actually projected to sign it. It's getting a little crazy. This update is, I don't know, something we've been waiting to hear, but it's still a little bit scary. We're going to dive into all of that. Plus, AJ DeBanca had something interesting to say about the Wizards' success this year and his individual goals. We're going to get into all of that coming up on this episode of Wizards Digest. Now, I know we're waiting till August 6th, the Anthony Davis saga. It continues every single day. And well, you're going to want to stick around for this report. But hey, before you do, just want to remind you guys to hit that subscribe button because 87% of you, hey, that number is going down, which is really good. Thank you for subscribing or not subscribed though. So help us hit a thousand subscribers. We're only about 200, 300 away. We're getting very close. We're here every single day, giving you the latest and greatest just like this. AJ DeBanca. If we make it to the playoffs, I think rookie of the year will come. My main goal is to make the playoffs. We got a squad. And I love hearing this from the young guys, right? His main goal isn't to win rookie of the year, is it? Look, that'll come if it comes, but he is saying how good this Wizards team looks. And honestly, it really does. It's something we've been talking about. Perkins had us top five, whether that means anything to you, whatever. Um, but still on paper, it's an unreal team. AJ DeBanca, which is kind of crazy to say, but it's the third highest paid player on this team already with just that rookie deal. I mean, rookie of the year, I'm sure is in his sights. There are a lot of talented rookies coming in this year, but the fact of the matter is Nick, he's not the first and he won't be the last player to say that the main goal is to make the playoffs. And I think it's definitely what all the fans want to hear as well. Yeah, obviously for, if you're number one pick naturally, uh, most of the time you're going to be going to a bad team. That's something that he's actually been public about. And he's happy that he got blessed, I guess enough to go to a team that in theory should be able to be competitive. Right. And obviously he spoke about making the playoffs rookie of the year. Doesn't really, it would be cool, right? But it doesn't really matter all that much in the grand scheme of things on an organizational level and making the playoffs, I think is a very good squad and getting into the playoffs. I would love that after 17 wins last year, that's obviously going to be hopeful or that's hopefully going to be a feasible goal, but also AJ is going to have a huge part in that. Something else was interesting that I want to bring up as well. You can see, uh, if you look on the screenshot here, he actually took a trip recently to, um, a very interesting spot and actually posted on LinkedIn about a trip to China. And you can see, he said, I just took a trip to China. You can't stand in front of Bruce Lee and not lock back in. Got plenty of work in the whole trip. I'll be back. That's a promise. I recommend you actually go on Twitter, go on LinkedIn, actually read what he said, but he just talks about how he's locked into the upcoming season, plenty of work done in the trip. And he said, he'll be back. It's a promise. He's just a cool player to root for. And I'm excited for it. Yeah, me too. I, AJ Devons is just one of those guys that is already endearing himself to fans as he should. I mean, the number one pick, obviously, but like, there's so much good, uh, about him and we're just going to see it translate on the floor. I can't wait to see what he puts up this year, but leave your thoughts on him down below. But obviously, you know, we go from AJ to AD that the Anthony Davis stuff is continuing to loom over Wizards fans heads and the organization's head, obviously, because Anthony Davis is eligible to as of August 6th. And just to give you guys an idea, first off, let's take a look at the payroll again. Um, you can see how he has the player option, but obviously he could sign a longer deal to, you know, eat up some more years. And for him, that would make a lot more sense because you don't want to risk him with his injury history. He probably won't accept that player option. He'll just extend and take that money over the long term. However, you can see that this year, Wizards, of course, are not going to be a tax team. The tax this year is about $200 million at the first apron, and next year is going to be a little bit higher. Um, but, you know, next year could be okay with Anthony Davis, but it's the years after when you have to start considering the Alex Tsar extension. Honestly, even the Bilal Koulibaly extension coming up soon, because this is something that, you know, he can be extended. It gets a little bit messy when you look at all the young players, and especially in 28, 29, when you have to start paying them. Keyshawn George, right, is another example, Bob Carrington, maybe. So this Anthony Davis thing looms not just for him, but for all of those guys down the line because it has huge implications on all of that, and we have this coming today. This is, uh, Wizards Muse via Ben Sandick. Anthony Davis may wait to sign his non-max extension. Quote, my best guess is both sides agreed to wait. I wouldn't fret about the resolution coming close to four for $275 million. The Wizards become eligible to extend AD on Thursday. Now, what I'm understanding from this, and the fans let us know below, Nick, you as well, I think this is basically saying we don't have to worry about it hitting that max number, because 4275 is a max contract. Pays them about $68 million a year, which would be tough. To me, this is kind of good. So we might not expect an extension this Thursday. It might go on for a while, but at the very least, if I'm reading it right, I'm hoping it means that this max extension that is scaring a whole lot of us might not even be on the table. Yeah, you can see the first line. It said he may wait to sign his non-max in all I mean, it's good news overall, I think, for Wizards fans, because the big worry is that they signed him to the four-year $275 million before the season. I think that would be kind of a doomsday scenario, because you don't know what he's going to be like. You don't know if he's going to be healthy. If he goes out and he plays really good next year, you know, is it max in the cards? I don't think so. I think even if he plays well or if they sign him and extend him before the season starts, somewhere in the middle of a max and not the minimum doesn't work like that. But somewhere, you know, around, I don't even know. I don't even want to throw out a number because it's so, I don't know what he's looking for, whether it's a figure deal. I don't know. Yeah, it could be that. Could he want to do one year to prove himself? And then, but then you have this year, it's getting really weird. But the report is that they aren't going to give him a max and you don't have to worry if you're a Wizards fan about it being a max, which is great news. The question is, how healthy is he going to be? How motivated is he going to be? Seems fairly motivated. And if he has a great year this upcoming season, maybe then they talk about giving him a max. And that's the question. Is he worth a max if he goes out and puts up 25 points a game and, you know, three blocks that, you know, maybe, but then you can have a conversation then, or maybe he goes elsewhere. Yeah. I mean, he's also just one year removed from playing 53 games and averaging 25, 12 and two blocks a game. Right. Like, but again, it is the health and, you know, to just not repeat every single argument we've ever said, you know, against this max extension, it's just, there are a lot of questions. Like, I think Anthony Davis understands that his health is a bit of a drawback to everything that goes on with him. Right. I think he gets that, but also like if he does just want to prove it himself, he has that player option next year. I think for him, especially considering his age, it just makes a ton of sense to lock up a long-term future. So ultimately I think it is just going to come down to the price point. I think he and his agent will probably try and gauge what the league wide feel is for how much other teams might want to give him. And if those other teams are not willing to give him what the wizards are going to give him, which whether it's 40 million, 50 million, I don't know, over three or four years, then he signs with the wizards because ultimately he kind of still is in control of this situation. I think if he doesn't like the money, the wizards are offering him and he does want to bet on himself. He can do that. He can play this year and then say, look, I'll take my 63 mil next year, please. And thanks. Like there there's a lot of, there are a lot of moving parts, but ultimately I'm very glad that we're waiting. I'm very glad that this is probably not going to happen too, too soon. But I mean, is there a price where you would be okay with it very soon? Like if he comes in and it's like a three year, 30 million, $35 million extension, like at that point, I'd be thrilled with it. I just, I just don't know if Anthony Davis would do it. And I think maybe I'm living in a bit of dreamland here, even mentioning that. Yeah. I'm assuming you mean 30 million a year, but either way it would be, it would be a lot of, uh, I don't know. There's a lot of question marks. He spoke about playing 82 games. We obviously is aware of the health concerns, obviously. I don't know. I'm fine with extending him if he proves to have a good year this year. But again, the question still becomes if he has a great year next year and you're talking about extending him, he's going to want a big contract next season if he plays well. Uh, but then the age is still a factor and we're, we shouldn't even be talking about after next year. The question is on August 3rd, in a couple of days, what are the wizards going to do? Seems like they're going to ride it out, which is the right play all around. Uh, and you did not like to give up a ton for him anyway. So he plays great and he ends up walking or, you know, whatever ends up happening. You're not losing a whole lot. I think the biggest thing here, you have a competitive team to build around to Bonsa and, uh, you have Trey young to see what he can do alongside a lot of the young players. So it seems that he's happy in Washington and the extension isn't going to be a max, which would have been in my eyes, a bit of a nightmare scenario and good on Will Dawkins. Yeah. Good on the front office. I mean, like it's, it's still a little scary, but the cool thing about this team is just, it is a lot of wait and see, it's a little nerve wracking, but also exciting at the same time. So let us know, is there a number where you would be okay today, signing that extension? Cause this, there is a world where it could happen this week though. All signs seem to indicate it's not going to be that max we feared, but even if it gets close to 68, like if it's 60, would that concern you to leave your thoughts down below, that'll do it for this episode. Thank you for tuning in every single day. I'm Josh Cosmo. It goes Nick gospel.