Anthony Davis, a 10-time NBA All-Star, is moving to the Washington Wizards as part of a significant trade involving several players and draft picks. The deal, finalized in early 2026, 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, and multiple draft selections, sources confirmed to The Dallas Morning News.
This move marks a major shift for the Dallas Mavericks, who had envisioned Davis and Kyrie Irving leading the team alongside Luka Doncic to an NBA Finals appearance. However, Davis and Irving shared only three quarters on the court together, and they never had the chance to play alongside the Mavericks’ No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg as a dynamic trio of top picks.
The Mavericks’ Strategy and Its Shifting Future
The Mavericks had committed heavily to building around Doncic, holding onto key future draft picks including their own 2026 first-round pick and a 2029 first-rounder acquired from the Lakers. Adding two more first-round selections in this trade further reshapes their assets for the upcoming years.
Davis’ departure seemed inevitable following the firing of general manager Nico Harrison in November 2025. Harrison’s exit spurred immediate questions about Davis’ place with the team. Throughout that period, Davis maintained his focus on playing basketball despite the trade rumors swirling around him.
“Man, look. Y’all make it like we’re going to war or something. This is basketball. It comes with it,”
Davis said on November 26. “I think everybody in their career has been involved in trade talks, or been traded or some type of move. That doesn’t affect me.” – Anthony Davis, NBA Player
“I’ve been in trade talks for a while. My job is to do what I do when I’m on the floor, play basketball and try to lead this team. Whatever comes out of that, comes out of that. I don’t really have any control over that, but I do have an open line of communication with the front office and I’m just ready to get back on the floor.”
Despite his intent to stay productive on the court, Davis’ time on the floor was curtailed by recurring injuries, including a left hand sprain that was expected to keep him sidelined for about six weeks before the trade.
Leadership Changes and the Trade Execution
After Harrison’s dismissal, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont appointed Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley as co-interim general managers. The duo managed to finalize one of the franchise’s most significant trades, sending Davis out while acquiring promising players and draft assets.
Davis and his agent, Rich Paul from Klutch Sports, had sought a contract extension this summer, but the Mavericks appeared reluctant to guarantee a new deal. Davis currently has one year remaining on his contract, with a player option for the 2027-28 season, shifting contract discussions to the Wizards’ front office.
If healthy, Davis could integrate into the Wizards’ lineup well before the playoffs, allowing the team to maximize his impact during the crucial final stretch of the season.
The Mavericks’ Risky Bet and Injury Challenges
The Mavericks traded Doncic, a generational talent and leader of their 2024 NBA Finals run, to acquire 32-year-old Davis under the vision set by Harrison for a three-to-four-year competitive window. However, Davis faced numerous injury setbacks, restricting him to only 29 regular season games and two Play-In tournament appearances since joining Dallas on February 1, 2025.
When Davis arrived, he was recovering from an abdominal strain and soon suffered a left adductor strain during his underwhelming debut against the Houston Rockets on February 8, 2025. Although the team looked defensively strong in the initial three quarters, Davis left prematurely due to injury. This game remains the only occasion where Davis and Irving shared the court as Mavericks teammates.
Irving’s season further declined when a torn ACL sidelined him less than a month later, deepening the team’s injury troubles. Meanwhile, Davis underwent offseason surgery to repair a detached retina and dealt with additional issues including a left calf strain, Achilles tendinopathy, adductor soreness, and the hand injury that preceded his trade.
Davis’ Impact and Mavericks’ Transition
When on the court, Davis proved to be dominant, averaging 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game in his limited appearances. Despite his impressive production, his inability to stay healthy contributed to the trade that dramatically changed the Mavericks’ trajectory.
Moving on from Davis, the Mavericks now turn their attention to Cooper Flagg, the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, who will be central to the team’s rebuilding efforts. With Irving healthy and Flagg developing, Dallas is starting a new chapter that may include challenging battles to secure a Play-In tournament spot.
In less than a year, Anthony Davis experienced a brief but eventful tenure with the Mavericks, marked by initial high hopes and complicated by injuries and team changes, culminating in today’s trade that closes his Dallas chapter and opens a new one in Washington.
