The Dallas Mavericks Trade Anthony Davis
The Dallas Mavericks have officially concluded their experiment with Anthony Davis, trading the 10-time NBA All-Star and several players to the Washington Wizards in a significant eight-player transaction. This blockbuster deal includes not only Davis but also Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Details of the Trade
In exchange, the Mavericks will acquire Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, and a total of five draft picks—comprising two first-round picks and three second-round picks.
As part of the agreement, Dallas is set to receive a first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2026 and a protected first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors in 2030. Additionally, they will obtain second-round picks from the Phoenix Suns in 2026, the Chicago Bulls in 2027, and the Houston Rockets in 2029.
Davis’s Tenure with the Mavericks
Davis joined the Mavericks in a high-profile trade last season, which saw them relinquishing star player Luka Dončić, along with Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber, all heading to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Davis’s tenure in Dallas was marred by injuries that limited his contributions significantly; he participated in only 29 games since joining the team. His latest injury setback occurred during a game against the Utah Jazz on January 8, leaving him sidelined for an extended period, despite initial reports suggesting he would not require surgery.
During his home debut last year, Davis showcased his skills with impressive statistics, including 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists, but unfortunately, he injured himself soon after, missing a lengthy stretch of games. His average stats with the Mavericks included 20 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.
Mavericks’ Future Outlook
In a struggling Mavericks season characterized by injuries to both Davis and fellow guard Kyrie Irving, the team found themselves eliminated in the Play-In Tournament but did secure the first overall pick in the subsequent draft, which they used to select the highly-touted prospect Cooper Flagg from Duke.
With Davis now out of the picture and Irving still recovering from a torn ACL, the Mavericks are expressing a renewed focus on rebuilding around Flagg and a reconfigured roster. Meanwhile, following considerable criticism related to the Dončić trade, Dallas made the decision to terminate general manager Nico Harrison.
As the Mavericks navigate this challenging rebuilding phase, the absence of both star players and the trades from the original Dončić deal may lead to a longer reconstruction process than anticipated. Further developments on this breaking story will follow as the situation unfolds.
