Anthony Davis could reunite with Kyrie Irving, but not on the Wizards

The Washington Wizards pulled off a surprise deal last month in acquiring 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis.

But there is a chance that Davis might not be a Wizard for all that long.

Davis, 33, has not suited up for Washington as he recovers from a ligament injury in his left hand. Davis last played for the Mavericks on Jan. 8, nearly a month before he was traded, and he is due to sign an extension this summer that could pay him nearly $60 million per year.

That isn't a problem for the Wizards right now. Washington is trying to enter the next phase of its rebuild, and the franchise's brain trust is hoping that a healthy Davis-Trae Young combo will put fans in the seats -- and maybe get the Wiz back to the playoffs.

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However, a looming NBA expansion draft means the Davis-Young pairing might not have a lengthy shelf life.

The Sporting News' Stephen Noh writes that Davis could be the first pick of a rebooted Seattle franchise that could begin play during the 2028-29 season -- and he could reunite with his former Mavericks teammate Kyrie Irving, whose own position in Dallas has been called into question.

Yep, the Wizards would potentially leave Davis unprotected in the 2028 expansion draft, which would leave the future Hall of Fame inductee in position to become Seattle's first marquee player.

"(Davis) will likely be making over $60 million as a 35-year-old on a team with a much younger timeline," Noh writes. "He's probably going to be one of the worst contracts in the league by this point, and Alex Sarr should be ready to take over starting center duties."

Noh writes further that Irving, who will miss this entire season due to an ACL tear, no longer fits the Mavericks' timeline as Dallas builds around Cooper Flagg. The Mavs may well draft a younger lead guard this summer who would effectively take Irving's place. 

So this is how Seattle could -- somewhat realistically -- end up with both Davis and Irving when they return to the NBA in fall 2028.

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