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Washington Wizards Reporter Josh Robbins from The Athletic joins The Kevin Sheehan Show to give his thoughts on the Anthony Davis trade buzz, if the Wizards could actually trade him and what moves the team could make during NBA free agency.
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00:00The NBA free agency, officially in terms of negotiations ability, starts right now at 12.01 p.m. here on
00:12June 30th.
00:13Joining me right now is Josh Robbins. Josh has been covering the Wizards for a few years for The Athletic.
00:19You can follow him on X at Joshua B. Robbins. So there's been a lot of Wizards related stories over
00:30the last 24 hours.
00:31Do you believe any of them? Let's start with Anthony Davis.
00:35In terms of him being traded to Golden State? Yes.
00:40I find that very difficult to believe. I just don't think there's really.
00:47Well, I don't think there's any traction to it. A, I'm not sure that Golden State wants Anthony Davis in
00:52the first place.
00:54I think Golden State wants LeBron James.
00:59And I don't believe the Wizards have any interest in trading Anthony Davis at this time.
01:05I don't. The natural question that I would suggest you ask me, so I'm going to answer it for you,
01:12is what is the likelihood that A.D. starts the regular season with the Wizards?
01:19Or I think he'll be on the roster to begin the regular season with the Wizards.
01:24That's my take on this.
01:29I'm personally glad that you said that and believe that.
01:33And I certainly felt that way.
01:36I had Will Dawkins on the show on Friday and replayed it yesterday here on the radio show.
01:42And that's what I kind of got the sense the plan for the team is.
01:47Like, Josh, why would they acquire him when they acquired him?
01:51Which, by the way, was perceived to be for next to nothing.
01:54And his value hasn't increased since they acquired him.
01:58When you say not now, I mean, I could see that if he plays and his value increases,
02:04that a trade deadline deal wouldn't be out of the question if they haven't signed him.
02:10But maybe the chronological next question is, do you think they'll sign him to an extension in August?
02:18That's the question.
02:19It's not even an open secret.
02:22Everyone in the league, including other executives from other teams, tell me that Anthony Davis wants to get paid.
02:29And he wants a significant extension.
02:33Whether it's a max extension or not, I'm not clear.
02:38But that's what's at issue here.
02:41I get the sense that Anthony Davis would be happy to be anywhere that is willing to give him an
02:48extension for the value that he views he demands.
02:54Or commands.
02:55Commands, not demands.
02:57And so it's the wisdom that Anthony Davis...
03:02Anywhere that would give the money, I would think.
03:05And that includes here.
03:07And, you know, that's my sense of it.
03:12The question I would think is, what kind of willingness would the Wizards have to re-sign a 33-year
03:23-old player who's after his post-prime who has had significant injury issues?
03:32And I would imagine that that is what the internal deliberation the Wizards would have is.
03:38It's one thing to sign a 28-year-old Trey Young to a deal four years over for $213 million.
03:48Trey Young is 28.
03:49And, or will be 28 in the next few days.
03:52His, or before the season.
03:55He doesn't have the injury history that Anthony Davis does.
03:59And Trey Young...
04:01And he's younger.
04:02And he's younger.
04:03And he's about to enter his prime or is in there already.
04:05Now, we'll see if he's lost a step, as a lot of his detractors say.
04:09We're going to find that out October, November, when they play games that matter.
04:14But there's a big difference between offering Anthony Davis close to a max extension.
04:23And I'm not sure that's exactly what he's looking for, and agreeing to re-sign Trey Young for what would
04:31have been the max that he could have signed for another team.
04:35So, I understand the difference.
04:37I think everybody understands the difference between, you know, a long-term for Trey Young versus a long-term for
04:43Anthony Davis.
04:44But you're doing a great job, and I appreciate it, of coming up with some of the key questions.
04:49But you didn't answer the question as to whether or not the team will have the stomach to give him
04:55a deal that makes him say yes and stay here.
05:01I'm not sure that – I don't know.
05:03The answer is I don't know.
05:05And anyone who says –
05:06Well, which way would you lean?
05:10I would think that he's got to show that he can stay injury-free, that he can buy in, that
05:16he can be a good teammate.
05:17That's what I think would be necessary for the Wizards to choose to re-sign him.
05:24And I think that he would have to prove himself to a degree, which is something that is not something
05:29that I think would be something he would love to hear.
05:32I mean, this is an all-75-level player, at least he used to be.
05:39So, I don't think that the market in the league for Anthony Davis is what the market Anthony Davis thinks
05:47is out there for him or should be out there for him.
05:50So, do I think that they're going to come to an agreement in August?
05:54Only if they can reach a number where the Wizards feel like they're not impeding their ability to build out
06:02the rest of the roster.
06:03I would think that he would have to – it would almost have to be like, show us that you
06:10can help us.
06:12And I think that's what their attitude would be.
06:14I don't think that they would reach an extension in August, but part of that may also determine on what
06:20kind of feedback AD and his representation get from the 29 other teams in the league.
06:26Is there anyone out there willing to pay him the money that he feels like he deserves?
06:32And I would just say, look at what his trade value was.
06:35Right.
06:36Next to nothing.
06:37And therefore, I would say there's probably not a team out there that's willing to pay him what AD would
06:45think that he deserves.
06:47Would there be reason to be concerned about his enthusiasm for the upcoming season if they don't reach a deal
06:59in August?
07:02Perhaps.
07:03Perhaps.
07:04Perhaps.
07:04I mean, this is someone who forced his way out of New Orleans, I believe.
07:09I think that's a fair way to describe it.
07:13But how much leverage does he have?
07:15Again, I would point to what his trade value was how many months ago?
07:21Four months ago.
07:21Yeah.
07:22It was next to nothing.
07:24And as he has said, and he said it publicly, I'm under contract.
07:30I'm under contract.
07:32And I think his reputation would take a severe beating, and his value across the league would take a severe
07:39beating if he were to, say, hold out.
07:43I don't think holding out for him is going to happen.
07:46This is not like a – I don't mean to bring the commanders into this, but this is not a
07:52Mark Rippon situation coming off of winning the MVP in the Super Bowl.
07:56But, you know, good for you.
07:58Good reference.
07:59This is not a Terry McCormick situation.
08:00Yeah, no, and he held out, and he struggled early in that season.
08:04So, yeah, I mean, I think because of, you know, all of our experiences, NBA fans, with Anthony Davis, I
08:15want to see him enthused and playing, and even if he's not on a new deal, trying to get to
08:21that new big deal with outstanding play.
08:25Because you and I have talked about this previously, I think we talked about it right after the trade.
08:30I actually – I hesitate to think that he'll – you know, I'm certainly not going to wager on him
08:36playing 65-plus games, you know, enough games to make an impact.
08:40But if he did, and he and Trey Young together with the Young core, I think they could be a
08:5142-43-44 win team and be a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference next year.
08:57And I remember that you were a little bit less hesitant to consider that as a possibility, but that's what
09:05I'd like to see.
09:06That's what I'm hoping for.
09:07So, I'm glad that you said that you don't think the chances of him being dealt are very good.
09:13Where do you stand if he's enthused, if he's healthy, if he plays a significant majority of the games?
09:20What's their upside in 2026-2027?
09:25Well, when you said 42 wins in the sixth seed, I looked up the standings last year.
09:29In the east, the sixth seed –
09:31Yeah, that would be play-in territory.
09:33So, say 44-45 to get to the sixth.
09:35What was the sixth, Atlanta or Toronto?
09:3946.
09:40Okay.
09:40Both the fifth and sixth seed, 46 wins.
09:43So, and next year, even teams like a Brooklyn is now incentivized to not tank.
09:53Right, sure.
09:53So, I think wins will be a little bit tougher to come by, certainly on the bottom end of the
09:57scale.
09:57Exactly.
09:59Play-in is more than a reasonable expectation.
10:02I've had a few execs say, if everything goes right for Washington, maybe they could get into the sixth seed.
10:09And this is the Wizards' new world now.
10:12They're entering seasons with reasonable expectations that they'll be not just competitive, that they'll be at least above average.
10:21And so, is a sixth seed reasonable?
10:26Reasonable, but I would think that a lot would have to go right.
10:29And one of those would be Anthony Davis is healthy for the majority of the games, the overwhelming majority of
10:36the games, like 68 or more.
10:40And that the young guys continue to develop.
10:44Because that's really what the upcoming season is about.
10:47That's right.
10:47They're not going to go into...
10:49The upcoming season is about developing the young guys, no one more importantly than A.J. DeBonsa.
10:57But, the difference this year compared to last is that the coach isn't going to be going into games with
11:02both of his hands tied behind his back.
11:04Right.
11:04Where they're actually going to be trying to win these games.
11:08And so, I do anticipate there'll be some experimentation, but with the goal of trying to win.
11:16Yes.
11:17By the way, I would say, disagree or agree with me, I would say that their only chance to be
11:24in that low to mid-40s win total and in vying for, let's just say, the sixth seed, staying out
11:33of the play-in,
11:34is if Anthony Davis plays, as you said, 68-plus games.
11:39If he's not a part of it, this is going to be a 30-win kind of a team.
11:45Even if A.J. DeBonsa wins Rookie of the Year, Cooper Flagg won Rookie of the Year last year, and
11:50Dallas won 26 games.
11:52Their only way to a playoff series, I'm talking about a playoff series, is with Anthony Davis being Anthony Davis
12:02next year.
12:02Do you agree or disagree with that?
12:07I disagree with that.
12:09Okay.
12:09Because anything can happen in the play-in.
12:12Do you think they'd reach the play-in without Davis playing 60-some-odd games?
12:20Probably not, but I wouldn't put it...
12:22Well, that's what I'm saying.
12:24So, what I think everyone, including me, has underestimated is just how much Wizards tried to lose last year.
12:34I know it sounds funny, and I'm not trying to be flipping about it.
12:38But, I think what is really unknown is how good the young core really is.
12:46Yes, they showed certain individual abilities, but were they held back in terms of winning in such a way that
12:52it shrouded how good the kids are?
12:55That is something that...
12:56It's a fair question to ask.
12:58It's a fair question to ask.
13:00And so, now when those reins are taken off, those restraints, what happens?
13:07I can't wait to find out.
13:09Now, I think your opinion is probably correct.
13:12But, like, a 10th seed?
13:16A 10th seed going on the road to begin the play-in?
13:20That's not unreasonable, even if Anthony Davis plays only 60 games.
13:26Or 55 games.
13:27You know, Josh, the flip side to the...
13:32You know, there's a mystery around the upside with all of these young players.
13:36Because of the environment in which they were playing, which was not nearly as competitive as it will hopefully be
13:43this year.
13:44The flip side is that what happens when these young players face teams that take them more seriously?
13:53Because they're not tanking.
13:55And maybe something on the lesser side gets revealed about some of the younger players that I think we have
14:03legitimate hope for.
14:04It's hard to know for sure without them playing in games that matter to both teams more often than not.
14:14100%.
14:15And thank God you're the radio professional because you're a lot more articulate than I am.
14:19Well, I don't know about that.
14:20Well, yes, you are.
14:22Yes, you are.
14:23So, what else should we expect today and in the next few days?
14:29There's also...
14:30By the way, there's breaking news.
14:31LeBron James has informed the Lakers that he is going to be playing in 2026-2027, but he will not
14:40be playing with them.
14:42He is moving on and he will play elsewhere.
14:46I'm guessing Golden State, right?
14:48It's got to be.
14:51I don't know about that.
14:53That's beyond my expertise.
14:56He's not necessarily Golden State.
14:59I think LeBron is the kind of player who likes to be recruited.
15:05And so, I'm not convinced.
15:10Is it possible?
15:11Yes.
15:12I'm sure that Golden State wants him.
15:15I'm not sure that Golden State wants Anthony Davis.
15:18But I am sure that Golden State wants LeBron.
15:21I mean, I think about it, Josh, and I've mentioned some of these teams recently.
15:25You know, one of the teams that I just can't believe hasn't been a big part of the conversation.
15:32I'm not saying that that means anything.
15:33We'll find out starting today and through the next few days.
15:37But how does Denver proceed forward in the Western Conference with Nikola Jokic at 31 years old
15:46without giving him another star player and giving him a chance to compete for a Western Conference title?
15:53That's the team out West that's gotten lost in the last couple of years.
15:57Because we all thought after 2023, look out, they're going to win titles, plural.
16:04And then it's OKC, and I still think OKC probably would have won the title with Jalen Williams had he
16:10been healthy.
16:11But that's another story.
16:13But, you know, guys like Jalen Brown and LeBron, Jalen Brown and LeBron are different, clearly.
16:18But I'm wondering where these players, it's going to be, this is going to be a very interesting next few
16:23hours and days, I think, in the NBA.
16:27But back to the Wizards for a moment.
16:29You know, there are reports out there that they could be interested in reuniting with Russell Westbrook.
16:35What do you think the chances of that happening are?
16:39Low.
16:40I think that that's almost laughable.
16:45Why?
16:47I don't see how he fits into this team.
16:50Now, I would imagine that Anthony Davis would like to see another veteran presence added to the roster.
16:56I don't think Russell Westbrook is the right kind of veteran presence.
17:01OK.
17:01Who would be?
17:04Well, that's a great question.
17:05You know, up until about 45 minutes ago, I would have said, and he's not the same type of veteran
17:11who Russell Westbrook is.
17:14I would have thought that in terms of adding someone to the big man rotation would have been, someone good
17:20would have been Robert Williams of 30.
17:21But right before you and I got on the phone, apparently he has agreed to return to Portland.
17:29By the way, the negotiating window, the formal negotiating window for players on other teams is at 6 o'clock
17:37tonight, not noon.
17:39So if there is news of that nature, it's not going to happen until 6 o'clock.
17:46What do you, or do you have any guesses on what you think?
17:49I don't think Westbrook is a good fit for this team.
17:51I just, I just don't.
17:52And I think that one of the reasons why people would think that he is, is that there are now
17:58three people, actually four people within the Wizards who have experience working with him.
18:07Most notably, Brian Keefe and Will Dawkins.
18:13But I, I just find it difficult to believe that, that locker room can handle that ego.
18:23That's me talking now.
18:24I, I, I don't think he's a good fit for what the Wizards are trying to build.
18:29You know, it's interesting in saying that, and I, I'm, I'm looking up who wrote this story,
18:33but I think one of the things that I've learned about Russell Westbrook, you know, over the last few years
18:39is what a tremendous, valuable locker room veteran presence he's been.
18:46You said ego.
18:47There have been stories written about Russell Westbrook, about how players in teams.
18:53I remember Tommy Shepard telling me, you have no idea how beloved he is in this locker room.
18:59Now, I personally used to love Russ.
19:02I don't think you can win with Russ being your best player, your second best player, or even your third
19:07best player, because his game just doesn't fit the postseason.
19:11He plays at 150 miles per hour.
19:13The game slows down.
19:14He can't.
19:15But the, you know, the word about Russell Westbrook in recent years is he is of value as a veteran
19:23in a locker room.
19:24You think differently?
19:26I think he can be very difficult on young players.
19:29Not in the sense of hazing.
19:32Don't misunderstand what I'm saying.
19:34But I think that he is so demanding of young players that he can hijack a developmental plan.
19:45Not in terms of, you know, work on this instead of what the team is telling you.
19:49But I think that if you don't have the right kind of youngsters who are used to being pushed that
19:53way, that it could have a negative effect.
19:57And I know that Denny Obdia was said to be someone who appreciated Westbrook's kind of pushing.
20:07And Westbrook was kind to him when they weren't playing or practicing.
20:11But I think that if you were to get some truth serum involved here, that Denny would acknowledge that it
20:20was not always easy to be Westbrook's teammate.
20:23All right. Do you have a guess on what they'll try to add now that Robert Williams was probably your
20:28first guess and he's, you know, back with Portland?
20:31Well, he wasn't necessarily my first guess.
20:34Okay.
20:34He was someone who I thought could have fit.
20:37The problem is this isn't necessarily going to be something that's going to be filled by free agency.
20:44It could be via trade.
20:47Porzingis is off the table.
20:48He's going back to Golden State.
20:50What I think that they would be – the qualities that I think that they would be looking for would
20:55be something along the lines of someone who can protect the rim and rebound.
21:02But this is not a particularly strong big man class.
21:07They have – they certainly have trade exceptions that they can work with.
21:16They have the non-taxpayer mid-level that they can work with.
21:22But that's – this is not necessarily going to be something that's solved today.
21:27It could take a week.
21:29It could take more until they find their best option there.
21:34Thank you, Josh, as always.
21:37Without question.
21:38Really appreciate it.
21:39Good stuff.
21:40Yep.
21:41Josh Robbins, everybody from The Athletic, does a great job covering the Wizards.
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