The Washington Wizards have broken the NBA trade world into two. On the heels of their acquisition of four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young, they have now added Young’s future co-star. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Washington Wizards have traded for 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in a move that rapidly changes the NBA landscape.
Wizards Trade For 10-Time NBA All-Star To Pair With Trae Young
Washington will send AJ Johnson, Khris Middleton, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks in exchange for Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum. This trade dramatically shifts the Eastern Conference and signals Washington is ready to contend next season. For the Mavericks, it signals a fresh start. They grab three expiring contracts and draft capital, shifting to a full-scale rebuild around the 2025 Draft first overall selection Cooper Flagg.
Washington Wizards
Washington moves into a win-now situation starting next season. They found a long-term answer at power forward and form an elite defensive frontcourt with Davis and Alex Sarr. Davis, at 32, is now the second-oldest player on the roster. The five-time All-NBA selection will be under contract until the 2026-27 season, before he gets a player option for the 2027-28 campaign. Davis will be making over $50 million in each of the next two seasons. He could make over $60 million in 2027-28 if he stays in Washington.
The Wizards’ new pairing of Davis and Young will no doubt be elite. However, they get to keep their young core to continue building upon. Additionally, Washington sent the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-round pick in the upcoming draft. They also get to keep their own, which is currently projected to be one of the three with tied odds for the first selection.
Keeping Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, Sarr, and Tre Johnson signals that the franchise believes firmly in this core moving forward. Sending away Johnson and major draft capital is a minus, but the Wizards have firmly inserted themselves into contention conversations next season. If Davis can stay healthy, Washington could become the team to beat in the East.
Dallas Mavericks
After just over 365 days removed from the Luka Doncic trade, the Mavericks have fully reversed course and now start their rebuild. Flagg will be the centerpiece, with a serious amount of cap space available once the offseason hits. A new question everyone should be asking is whether Kyrie Irving or Klay Thompson will be moved before the trade deadline. After making the NBA Finals just two seasons ago, Dallas will no doubt completely deconstruct their roster as they sit 12th in the Western Conference with no clear answer other than Flagg.
Unquestionably, Middleton is in the midst of arguably a career-worst season. However, Bagley has had the exact opposite and looks to be one of the best reserves in the entire league. Branham returns to Texas, just four hours north of where he started his career. Johnson will get, yet again, another fresh start. After being drafted in 2024, Johnson will join his third team in two seasons.
What little hope the Mavericks hold is in who they can entice to bring to Dallas in free agency. Their draft capital looks outstanding. They now gain a late first-round pick in arguably the best draft of the decade, while adding future picks that could turn into valuable assets.
The Last Word
The NBA trade world has fully begun moving ahead of the trade deadline. Washington moves into contention in the Eastern Conference, which has no clear top team. Dallas moves into the beginning phases of a rebuild around their next golden child in Flagg. With this move, Washington has positioned itself as the most-watched basketball franchise next season. Dallas has done the exact opposite.
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