Brian Windhorst Calls Anthony Davis Reunion With Los Angeles Lakers ‘Very Unlikely’

WASHINGTON — During an appearance on ESPN Los Angeles’ “Sedano & Kap” this week, co-host Scott Kaplan told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst he had heard that Anthony Davis wants to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Windhorst called a reunion “very unlikely” in the same segment, citing the Lakers’ shortage of tradable assets. Davis, now with the Washington Wizards, is in the final guaranteed season of his contract and has not signed an extension.

Kaplan said the reporters he overheard were in the media room at a Lakers game. He put what he heard to Windhorst as a question about the Lakers’ frontcourt.

“They don’t realize I’m listening and I’m hearing what they’re saying,” Kaplan said. “[One of them said], ‘I hear that Anthony Davis wants to return to the Lakers.’ … I think they’re credentialed. I think they know what they’re talking about. They assume I have no idea. But Windy, could Anthony Davis … We always talk about another big man for the Lakers.”

The Lakers acquired Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in July 2019, about six months after he requested a trade out of New Orleans. In the 2020 playoffs, he averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over 21 games. The Lakers won that championship with Davis and LeBron James. Davis played 312 regular-season games across parts of six seasons in Los Angeles, averaging 24.8 points.

On Feb. 2, 2025, Los Angeles traded Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the three-team deal that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers. Max Christie, who came to Dallas with Davis, is still on the Mavericks’ roster.

Davis played 29 games for Dallas, averaging 20.2 points and 10.8 rebounds. The Mavericks agreed to trade him to Washington on Feb. 4, 2026, a day before the trade deadline. Dallas received four players, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks in the three-team deal.

Washington had acquired Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks in January. Davis did not play for the Wizards last season after injuring his left hand on Jan. 8 against the Utah Jazz. The Wizards finished 17-65.

Wizards Plan To Revisit Anthony Davis Extension After Early-Season Look

Windhorst grouped Davis with Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis as the star-level players the league is watching for possible trades this season. All three hold contract options for next season, Windhorst said.

“Anthony Davis is one of the bigger question marks in the league this year,” Windhorst said.

“The Wizards basically said, ‘We want to see Anthony Davis play 20 to 30 games, see how he fits with our group, and then we’re going to revisit about whether we want to give him a contract extension,’” Windhorst continued. “Obviously, if they give him a contract extension, he agrees to it, he’s not being traded.”

“If he doesn’t get a contract extension, then I think you’re going to see his name out there on the trade market,” Windhorst added. “But here’s the thing. The Lakers just don’t have much high-value things, forget about Anthony Davis, just for any star player. They just don’t have much to trade. They’ve traded all of their picks, for the most part.”

Davis is making about $58.5 million this season and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. He became eligible on Aug. 6 for a four-year extension worth as much as roughly $275 million.

The same day, The Athletic’s Josh Robbins reported that any meaningful extension talks between Davis and the Wizards would take place during the 2026-27 season. At Wizards media day on Sept. 28, Davis said he would decide on his future in Washington “when the season is over.”

Through eight games, Davis is averaging 23.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 50.0% shooting. He sprained his right ankle in the first quarter of Wednesday’s 120-105 home loss to Atlanta and finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks on 12-of-19 shooting.

Davis sat out Friday’s 139-132 loss at Atlanta and Saturday’s 114-75 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Wizards have lost three straight and are 4-6.

Lakers Traded For Walker Kessler After LeBron James Left In Free Agency

James informed the Lakers on June 30 that he would not return for the 2026-27 season. He announced July 24 that he was joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

This offseason, the Lakers re-signed Austin Reaves to a four-year, $184.8 million contract. On July 1, they acquired Walker Kessler from Utah in a sign-and-trade. The Jazz received unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal with Los Angeles.

The only draft picks the Lakers can trade are a 2032 first-round swap and a 2033 second-round pick, according to NBC Sports.

Los Angeles is 8-2 and first in the Western Conference entering Sunday’s game at the Detroit Pistons. Dončić is averaging 40.1 points through nine games. Kessler is averaging 14.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks.

Windhorst said the Lakers’ shortage of assets applies to any star player, not just Davis. The Wizards gave up two first-round picks to acquire Davis in February.

“A trade for a star is very unlikely unless that star demands, ‘Trade me to Los Angeles and only Los Angeles, or I won’t show up,’ which has happened in the past,” Windhorst explained.

Davis said at his April 13 season-ending news conference that Washington was not what people made it out to be. He said he planned to meet with Wizards management about the organization’s plan for building a contender.

“They know that I want to win,” Davis said. “I’m sure that they want to win as well. Nobody wants to lose. … I know we have a lot of young guys but like I said, I mentioned it about the young guys, how talented they are. Adding Trae and myself kind of can help change that.”

“But I also understand I’ve been in this league a long time,” Davis continued. “I’ve been on losing teams, and it’s very hard to be a losing team and then a championship contender.”

Davis is listed as day-to-day with the ankle sprain. Washington plays at Detroit on Monday at 6 p.m. CT. The Wizards visit the Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 11, and Dallas plays at Washington on March 28.