Dallas — February 4, 2026 — The Dallas Mavericks have traded forward Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a package that shifts one of the league’s largest contracts and hands Dallas additional draft capital, both clubs confirmed Wednesday.
The full transaction
To Washington: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, Dante Exum
To Dallas: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round pick, a top-20-protected 2030 first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors, plus second-round selections in 2026 (Phoenix), 2027 (Chicago) and 2029 (Houston).
Why Dallas moved on
Davis, 32, leaves after only one season in Texas. The Mavericks had stunned the league in 2025 by sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package built around the 10-time All-Star. Injuries, including a recent hand sprain that has sidelined Davis for a month, and a $120 million balance on his contract reduced his market value. Dallas general manager Nico Harrison chose to shed salary, opening as much as $67 million in 2026-27 flexibility and lowering a looming luxury-tax bill for a roster now centered on 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
The Mavericks also pick up two first-rounders—one projected at the back end of the 2026 draft and another that cannot land higher than No. 21 in 2030—along with three future seconds. Middleton’s deal helps match salaries, while Johnson, Branham and Bagley give Dallas low-cost depth and a chance to evaluate young talent during a season in which the club currently sits 19-37.
Washington’s new core
For the Wizards, the move comes weeks after adding guard Trae Young. Pairing Young with Davis places a proven star alongside 2024 first-rounders Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr. Davis is expected to stay sidelined through the spring, a circumstance that could help Washington remain in the bottom four of the standings and protect a first-round pick owed to the New York Knicks if it falls outside the top eight.
When healthy, Davis is projected to start with Sarr in a frontcourt that should insulate Young defensively. Offensively, the team faces the task of balancing Davis’s interior game with Sarr, who has boosted his efficiency this season by operating closer to the basket.
Both Davis and Young could soon command new deals. Young can become an unrestricted free agent this summer by declining a $49 million option, while Davis is eligible to seek an extension ahead of a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
The trade marks another aggressive step for president Michael Winger as Washington attempts to transition from a full rebuild to Eastern Conference contention in 2026-27.
Source: ESPN
