Washington Wizards Acquire Anthony Davis in Multi-Player Trade with Dallas Mavericks

The Washington Wizards are in the process of acquiring four-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks through an eight-player trade that includes several draft picks heading to Dallas, according to a source familiar with the arrangement who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the pending NBA approval. This transaction signals a strategic shift for the Mavericks, moving away from last year’s contentious trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for an asset package centered on Davis. This deal, orchestrated by former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison in a late-night move that drew widespread criticism, has faced scrutiny since its inception. Harrison was dismissed by the Mavericks in November amid the team’s disappointing start to the season and trade rumors about Davis have circulated since his departure. In exchange for Davis, the Mavericks will receive a package from Washington comprising guards Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, and big man Marvin Bagley III. The Wizards are also sending two first-round and three second-round draft picks to Dallas, reflecting the substantial nature of the trade. From Dallas, Washington gains three guards: Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum. This influx of players aligns with the Wizards’ recent aggressive stance to exit a prolonged rebuild; they traded for Trae Young the preceding month and now are adding Davis to a young ensemble that includes Alex Sarr, the projected number two pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. It's uncertain whether Trae Young or Anthony Davis will see extensive playing time this season, a cautious approach that may benefit the team especially as they stand to lose their top draft selection this year if it falls lower than eighth. Nonetheless, this trade underscores the Wizards’ readiness to advance beyond relying on lottery luck. Looking ahead, a lineup featuring Davis, Young, Sarr, and other complementary talents could offer competitive promise within the Eastern Conference by the 2026-27 season, though concerns remain regarding Davis’s injury history. Davis, a ten-time All-Star, has been sidelined since January 8 due to a left-hand injury and was not anticipated to return before the All-Star break scheduled later this month. The criticism surrounding Harrison's decision to trade Doncic for Davis was rooted in the perception that the Mavericks forfeited a generational talent in his prime for a player with a significant injury history. At the time, Doncic was 25 years old. Unsurprisingly, Davis has only participated in 31 of a possible 84 games during his tenure with Dallas, spanning parts of two seasons, including two play-in tournament matches last season. His health challenges have encompassed a core muscle issue, a calf strain, and most recently, a hand injury sustained while defending Utah’s Lauri Markkanen. This trade also likely signals Dallas’s intent to position rookie Cooper Flagg as the franchise cornerstone moving forward. Flagg, the top overall draft pick, recently set an NBA scoring record for teenagers with a 49-point outing against Charlotte and has embarked on a three-game streak of scoring 30-plus points, a feat not previously accomplished by any NBA player under 20. Flagg, who led Duke to the Final Four last season and was the fourth freshman honored as Associated Press men’s basketball player of the year, will turn 20 in the subsequent season. Despite his individual success, the Mavericks have endured a five-game losing streak, including losses in all three games during Flagg’s recent high-scoring stretch. Currently, Dallas sits 12th in the Western Conference with a 19-31 record, dimming the prospects for guard Kyrie Irving’s return this season following his ACL injury last March. The Mavericks have missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons since the 2024 NBA Finals appearance, where they lost to Boston in five games. Harrison believed that pairing Davis, known for his dual offensive and defensive impact, with Irving would sustain Dallas’s competitive edge, a plan hampered by injuries. Davis’s stint alongside Irving lasted only one game before Davis suffered an abdominal injury and Irving subsequently sustained his knee injury less than a month later.