The Dallas Mavericks just pulled off one of the wildest trades of the NBA season, shipping 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in exchange for a veteran wing, a pile of young pieces and a serious stack of draft capital.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Dallas is sending Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to Washington. The Mavericks will receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks and three second-rounders.
It’s the kind of swing that instantly splits a fanbase into two groups: the ones screaming “MFFL” at the top of their lungs and excited that AD and his salary/injuries are off the team, and the ones staring at the screen like they just got hit with a transition poster.
AD IS OFF MY TEAM
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) February 4, 2026
Mavs just shed $70 million#MFFL
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) February 4, 2026
For Dallas, the headline is simple. Middleton plus picks is a safer long-term bet than tying everything to Davis’ health. It’s also a move that reads as cautious optimism: Middleton brings championship experience and playoff shot-making, while the picks give the Mavericks the flexibility to keep building without locking themselves into a fragile timeline.
For Washington, this deal is even louder. The Wizards are pairing Davis with Trae Young, who they also acquired during this recent stretch of moves from the Atlanta Hawks, a clear signal that the franchise is shifting from selling year after year to finally buying. With an excited young core already in place, Washington is betting that adding star power can fast-forward the rebuild.
Still, the risk is obvious. Davis is elite when healthy, but his injury history has always made his playing calendar feel unpredictable.
And Wizards fans are already pointing out the fine print: none of the picks Washington dealt were their own.
None of the picks Washington traded for Anthony Davis were there own:
• 2026 first-rounder (via OKC)
• 2030 first-rounder (via GSW)
• 2026 second-rounder (via PHX)
• 2027 secone-rounder (via CHI)
• 2029 second-rounder (via HOU)A front office masterclass. pic.twitter.com/VW1t7Ov91X
— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) February 4, 2026
Both teams can talk themselves into this. Both teams also know exactly what could go wrong.
