Anthony Davis to the Wizards: ‘We Can Compete at a High Level
The Dallas Mavericks surprise everyone by trading Anthony Davis and other key players to the Washington Wizards
The 2026 NBA Trade Deadline delivers a shocking move: Anthony Davis leaves the Dallas Mavericks and joins the Washington Wizards, along with Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum.
In return, the Mavericks receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, plus two first-round picks and three second-round picks.
This is a strategic step to build around our young talent, Cooper Flagg. The future picks and players we received give us the flexibility to shape the team of the future
Mavericks Executive
What it means for the Wizards
Washington completes its rebuilding phase and aims to build a young, competitive core led by Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
With the former Laker, the Wizards add experience and talent to a roster already full of potential: Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, and Bilal Coulibaly.
Having Davis on our roster changes our long-term prospects. With Trae Young and the rest of the young players, we can really compete at a high level
Wizards GM
A possible future starting lineup for Washington could be:
- Trae Young
- Tre Johnson
- Kyshawn George
- Anthony Davis
- Alex Sarr
Dallas focuses on the future
For the Mavericks, the goal is clear: accumulate long-term assets and create salary cap space to develop the team around Cooper Flagg. Khris Middleton brings experience and stability, while AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, and Marvin Bagley III represent the team’s future.
The trade shows how Dallas is prioritizing long-term building over chasing an NBA title this season, opening intriguing scenarios for next summer and the 2026 Draft.