Anthony Davis Dealt To Washington Wizards In Blockbuster Trade

Headed to the Washington Wizards:

• Davis (obviously the headliner)
• D’Angelo Russell
• Jaden Hardy
• Dante Exum

Headed to the Dallas Mavericks:

• Khris Middleton
• AJ Johnson
• Malaki Branham
• Marvin Bagley III
• Two first-round picks (Thunder’s 2026 pick and a protected 2030 Warriors pick)
• Three second-round picks

If you’re keeping score at home, that is a legitimate blockbuster. It is the kind of trade that breaks the trade machine simulations. But beyond the names and the picks, there is a distinct sense of “what just happened?” hanging over this move.

Why Dallas Pulled the Plug On Davis

Davis is currently sidelined with ligament damage in his left hand, an injury he picked up in early January against Utah. That’s been the story, hasn’t it? When he played, he was spectacular. But 29 games in a Mavericks uniform just isn’t enough return on investment for a franchise desperate to win now.

There is a palpable sense of frustration in Dallas. You can feel it. They took a massive swing bringing Davis in from the Lakers a year ago, hoping he was the missing piece. By sending him to the Wizards, they are essentially admitting defeat. They are cutting their losses and pivoting to a different strategy: depth and draft capital.

Acquiring Khris Middleton is a fascinating pivot. He isn’t the highlight-reel superstar that Davis is, but he’s a stabilizer. He’s a champion. If he’s healthy, he provides the spacing and perimeter scoring Cooper Flagg needs without the constant “will he, won’t he” anxiety that surrounded Davis. Plus, grabbing two first-rounders re-stocks a cupboard that was looking pretty bare.

What Are the Wizards Doing?

You have to respect the swing. Trading for Davis is a signal that they aren’t interested in a slow, painful rebuild. They want stars, and they want them now. Pairing Davis with whatever is left of their core is a bold strategy, especially considering he is 32 years old and currently wearing street clothes on the bench.

But for Wizards fans, this has to be a rollercoaster of emotion. On one hand, you’re getting a generational talent. When Davis is right, he is a top-5 player on the planet, a defensive monster who can drop 30 points in his sleep. On the other hand, you just traded a significant amount of youth and flexibility for a superstar who might not be on the court until the flowers start blooming in D.C.

Getting D’Angelo Russell in the deal adds another layer of intrigue. It gives Washington a ball-handler who can create his own shot, something they desperately need. But does this make them a contender? Or does it just make them interesting? In the NBA, “interesting” is often the purgatory between “contending” and “tanking.”

The Human Element Of the Business

Imagine being Jaden Hardy or AJ Johnson today. You wake up thinking you’re going to practice in one city, and by dinner time, you’re looking for apartments in a completely different time zone.

For Davis, this is another move in a career defined by movement lately. He went from being the face of New Orleans, to a champion in LA, to a hired gun in Dallas, and now, the new hope in Washington. That takes a toll. It’s hard to build chemistry, trust, and a legacy when you’re constantly packing boxes.

Ultimately, this trade will be defined by one thing: health. If Davis gets healthy and drags the Wizards to the playoffs, Washington looks like geniuses. If Middleton stabilizes Dallas and they make a deep run, the Mavs saved their season.