The Dallas Mavericks have officially moved on from Anthony Davis, sending the oft-injured big man to Washington in a deal that’s more about salvaging value than reshaping the roster. In return, the Mavs receive a package headlined by a pair of first-round picks - one from the Thunder in 2026 and a protected 2030 first-rounder from the Warriors - along with second-round selections in 2026 (via Phoenix), 2027 (via Chicago), and 2029 (via Houston).
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a blockbuster return. But given Davis’ health history and the timing of his latest injury, Dallas didn’t have much leverage. The Mavericks were staring down the barrel of a potential salary dump, so turning that into even marginal draft capital is a modest win, all things considered.
For the Wizards, this is a low-risk swing with some upside. They’ve now added both Davis and Trae Young without giving up any of their core young players or premium picks.
That’s a bold move for a franchise that’s been in rebuild mode for what feels like forever. Pairing Davis and Young with a crop of promising young talent in D.C. might not move the needle this season - especially with Davis likely to spend more time in street clothes than on the floor - but it could set the stage for a legitimate leap next year.
And that’s the real play here for Washington: patience. With Davis’ injury history, expectations for this season remain tempered. But if he can get healthy and Trae finds his rhythm in a new environment, the Wizards could be one of the more intriguing teams to watch heading into 2026-27.
Back in Dallas, this trade is the latest chapter in what’s become a cautionary tale. When the Mavericks dealt Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis a year ago, it was viewed by many as a head-scratcher.
A year later, it’s gone from puzzling to painful. Davis couldn’t stay on the floor, and the return for him now - while not nothing - is far from the kind of value you’d hope to recoup after trading away a generational talent like Dončić.
Here’s what the Mavericks have ultimately turned Dončić into:
- Max Christie
- A 2029 Lakers first-round pick
- A 2026 Thunder pick (30th overall)
- A 2030 protected Warriors first-rounder
- Three second-round picks
That’s a tough pill to swallow. And if not for the franchise catching lightning in a bottle by landing the No. 1 pick and selecting Cooper Flagg last spring, the outlook in Dallas would be even more grim. That lottery win might’ve saved the Mavericks from a full-scale collapse.
Now, attention turns to Kyrie Irving. With Davis out the door and the team clearly pivoting toward a youth movement around Flagg, Irving could be the next domino to fall. Trading him would clear the deck even further and potentially bring back more assets to support a long-term rebuild.
As for the Wizards, they’re quietly stacking talent. Davis and Young might not be long-term cornerstones - especially with Davis’ durability concerns - but they bring star power to a team that’s lacked it for years. Add in a likely high lottery pick this summer (potentially pairing with Alex Sarr), and Washington could be cooking up something real.
Bottom line: Dallas cut its losses, Washington took a swing, and the NBA’s trade season just got a lot more interesting.