Washington Wizards big man Anthony Davis has wasted no time providing a reminder of his stardom, with a major watch on the 33 year-old as a potential Golden State Warriors trade target.
Davis, in particular, flashed improved and more willing 3-point shooting during his opening preseason game against the reigning champion New York Knicks on Thursday night.
Anthony Davis’ 3-point shooting should intrigue Warriors
Davis finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists in less than 17 minutes, shooting an efficient 6-of-11 from the floor which included going 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Davis also added a block in an impressive first stint with the Wizards, having had his wish granted in a starting lineup that also featured another former number one overall pick in Deandre Ayton.
If Davis can rediscover his shooting from beyond the arc, suddenly he’d become a much more intriguing trade target for the Warriors and other potential suitors after he and the Wizards agreed to park contract extension discussions until at least mid-season.
After helping the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 championship by shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc on nearly three attempts per game during the bubble, Davis’ jump-shot has fallen off a cliff over the past half decade. He’s shot just 25.7% from 3-point range over the past six seasons, and just as importantly takes only 1.7 attempts per game which has limited his opportunity to play at power forward.
Davis has still averaged 24.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists during this period, but he’d become a completely different player if he can find his outside shot. At the same time, doing that may also make him less of a trade candidate as the Wizards would feel better about the big man combination of he, Ayton and Alex Sarr.
Warriors could be looking for another big man
Given Kristaps Porzingis is already dealing with another concerning health issue, the Warriors could be on the lookout for another big man come February’s mid-season deadline if the Latvian center can’t be on the floor consistently as the franchise needs him.
This is where Davis could become a legitimate option despite his own availability and injury issues, with the Warriors already looking at the 10x All-Star during the summer as they pursued his former Lakers teammate LeBron James in free agency.
Whether Davis becomes realistically available again before the mid-season deadline remains to be seen, but the Warriors will surely monitor his situation regardless and especially if his jump-shot can continue to improve as the season progresses.
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