The Portland Trail Blazers may have struck out in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, but that doesn’t mean they’re done searching for a franchise-altering star.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Portland is already preparing its next move if the Washington Wizards become willing to discuss Anthony Davis.

“Portland, to our understanding, as they have been floating around and poking around in Giannis trade conversations, we’ve been told that they would look to pivot to Anthony Davis on the trade market,” Fischer reported. “We’ve been told that Portland will be waiting there, with open arms, potentially, to trade for Anthony Davis in that event.”

Publicly, the Wizards continue to insist Davis remains part of their plans. Washington president Michael Winger recently said the 10-time All-Star is committed to the organization’s long-term vision.

Still, the situation isn’t quite that simple.

Davis has yet to play a game for Washington after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks at last season’s trade deadline. A hand injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year, and reports have since surfaced that Davis and his representatives are seeking a maximum contract extension.

That creates an interesting dilemma for the Wizards.

Washington already invested heavily in Trae Young and owns the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The franchise’s future appears centered around a young core featuring Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Bub Carrington. Committing another massive long-term contract to a 33-year-old Davis with an extensive injury history doesn’t exactly align with that timeline.

If the Wizards decide to move in a younger direction, Portland appears ready to capitalize.

The Trail Blazers took a significant step forward last season, finishing 42-40 and reaching the playoffs.

Davis would also be an intriguing fit alongside rising center Donovan Clingan. While Davis has long preferred playing power forward, Clingan’s presence would allow him to do exactly that while still giving Portland an elite defensive frontcourt.

Opposing teams would have to contend with Clingan’s rim protection and size in the paint along with Davis’ versatility, shot-blocking and five All-Defensive Team-caliber instincts. For a Blazers team looking to build on last season’s playoff appearance, a Davis-Clingan pairing could quickly become one of the NBA’s most imposing defensive duos.

When healthy, Davis remains one of the league’s most impactful two-way players. Despite appearing in only 20 games last season, he still averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

Portland has also reportedly explored other star scenarios involving players such as Jaylen Brown, but Davis may represent the most realistic path to adding a proven All-NBA talent.

For now, the Wizards continue to say all the right things publicly. But if Davis’ future in Washington becomes uncertain, the Trail Blazers appear ready to make their move.