Anthony Davis Heads to Washington in Blockbuster Trade - And the Pacers Just Got a Draft-Day Boost
In a surprise move that could shake up both conferences, the Dallas Mavericks are sending Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a multi-player deal that also includes Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum. In return, the Mavericks receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-rounders.
That’s a lot of names and picks flying around, but the headline is clear: Anthony Davis is now a Wizard. And while Washington’s front office is banking on a Davis return from his hand injury to boost their short-term competitiveness, there’s another team quietly celebrating this deal - the Indiana Pacers.
What This Means for Indiana
Let’s be clear: the Pacers have had a brutal season. At 13-38, they currently hold the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the third-worst in the league overall. But with the Wizards sitting just one game ahead of them at 13-36 - and now adding a superstar-caliber player in Davis - Indiana’s odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft just got a little better.
That’s a big deal.
The Pacers are in a tight race at the bottom. The Nets and Wizards are both within a game of Indiana in the East, and league-wide, they’re just three games behind the Utah Jazz, who sit sixth from the bottom. Utah’s recent addition of Jaren Jackson Jr. could help them climb out of that basement, too.
So yes, this is the kind of year where every loss - and every unexpected win by a fellow lottery hopeful - matters.
A Season of Setbacks in Indy
No one expected the Pacers to light the league on fire this season, especially after the departure of Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton’s extended absence due to injury. But few saw this level of collapse coming.
The injuries have been relentless. Beyond Haliburton, Indiana has been without key rotation players for long stretches - Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin, and T.J.
McConnell have all missed significant time. The result?
A roster that’s been patching holes all year, and a team that’s struggled to find any sort of rhythm.
Still, there’s a silver lining here. With the 2026 draft class shaping up to be one of the most talent-rich in recent memory, this down year could set the Pacers up for a franchise-altering pick.
Why This Draft Matters
This isn’t just a deep draft - it’s a potential turning point. Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson - these are names that scouts are already buzzing about.
Each of them has the tools to become a cornerstone player in the NBA. For a team like Indiana, which has been stuck in the middle for years, landing one of these top-tier prospects could be the first step toward building something sustainable.
But to get there, they need to stay in the mix at the bottom of the standings. And with Washington now adding Davis - assuming he returns this season - the Wizards could start picking up more wins, making Indiana’s path to a top-three lottery position a little smoother.
Looking Ahead
It’s not easy for fans to watch their team struggle through a season like this. But sometimes, the long game is the only game worth playing. The Pacers have a chance to reset - to add a player who could change the direction of the franchise for the next decade.
And thanks to a trade that sent Anthony Davis across conferences, that chance just got a little more real.
The Pacers didn’t make a move at the deadline - but they may have still come out as quiet winners.