Mavericks ship Anthony Davis to Wizards in eight-player blockbuster
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The Dallas Mavericks have reached agreement to send 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a deal involving eight players and multiple draft picks, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
Dallas will move Davis, along with guards Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, to Washington. The Mavericks receive forward Khris Middleton, rookies AJ Johnson and Malaki Branham, forward Marvin Bagley III, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round pick, the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected first in 2030 and three second-round selections, according to the sources.
Financial and roster implications for Dallas
The transaction drops the Mavericks below the luxury-tax threshold this season and reduces next year’s guaranteed payroll to roughly $150 million, opening additional offseason flexibility. Dallas structured the deal around the expiring contracts of Middleton, Branham and Bagley, while also clearing Hardy’s $6 million salary and Russell’s $6 million player option for 2026-27.
Washington’s push to contend
For the Wizards, the move adds a second high-profile—though currently injured—veteran after last month’s acquisition of Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Team officials intend to compete next season and kept top prospects Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson, as well as their own premium first-round picks, out of the trade package.
Davis’ brief Mavericks tenure
Davis, 32, averaged 20.1 points and 11.1 rebounds in 20 appearances for Dallas but has been sidelined since early January with ligament damage in his left hand. Limited to 29 total games after arriving from the Los Angeles Lakers in last year’s Luka Dončić trade, he is owed $58.5 million for 2026-27 and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. He becomes eligible for an extension in August.
Background on Dallas’ overhaul
The Mavericks began shopping Davis following the early-November dismissal of general manager Nico Harrison, whose departure stemmed partly from fan backlash to the Dončić trade. Dallas’ roster was further weakened when Davis missed six weeks with an adductor strain in his debut and Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL less than a month later.
Despite long odds, the Mavericks won the draft lottery and selected 19-year-old forward Cooper Flagg first overall. Flagg is averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists, but Dallas has lost five straight and sits 12th in the Western Conference at 19-31, 3.5 games behind the 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers (23-28).
Source: ESPN
