The Dallas Mavericks have traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, ending a tumultuous year for the star center in Dallas. The deal sends Davis, along with Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum, to Washington in exchange for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks. This move allows Dallas to refocus on building around rookie Cooper Flagg while bolstering Washington's young core with veteran talent.
The trade, reported by ESPN on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, marks the end of Anthony Davis' short and injury-plagued stint with the Mavericks. Acquired exactly 368 days earlier in a controversial deal that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis appeared in just 29 of 83 possible games for Dallas, sidelined by various injuries including a current ligament issue in his left hand expected to keep him out for several more weeks.
For the Mavericks, the return includes Khris Middleton—who may be a buyout candidate—the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2026 first-round pick (likely around No. 30), a top-20 protected Golden State Warriors 2030 first-rounder, and second-round picks from Phoenix (2026), Chicago (2027), and Houston (2029), plus prospects AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, and Marvin Bagley III. Overall, this is what Dallas has netted for Dončić: Max Christie, Middleton, Johnson, Branham, Bagley, the Lakers' 2029 first, Thunder's 2026 first, Warriors' 2030 first (protected), and those three seconds. The deal drops the Mavericks below the luxury tax line, providing cap flexibility to build around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 48.4% shooting and recently set a teenager scoring record with 49 points.
The Wizards, sitting at 13-36 and fourth-worst in the league, acquire Davis to pair with Trae Young—also recently added—and their promising young core of Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington. Both Davis and Young are expected to sit out until after the All-Star break to preserve Washington's draft position, including a top-eight protected pick owed to the Knicks. While concerns linger over Davis' health and age (32) and Young's defense, the low cost makes this a low-risk addition for a team not seen as a free-agent destination. Analysts grade the trade questionably for both sides, with Dallas gaining future assets but little immediate value, and Washington adding All-Star talent without sacrificing youth.
