Quick Read
- Anthony Davis was reportedly traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
- The deal involved eight players and multiple draft picks, with Dallas receiving Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks.
- The Mavericks shed significant salary, dropping below the luxury tax, while the Wizards acquired another star to accelerate their rebuilding efforts.
- Davis, 32, is currently out due to ligament damage in his left hand and is eligible for a contract extension in August.
- Washington also traded for Trae Young last month, indicating a strategy to acquire high-profile talent despite injury concerns.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – The Dallas Mavericks have reportedly traded All-Star forward Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a massive eight-player swap, just hours before the NBA trade deadline on February 5, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET. The move, which unfolded on Wednesday, sends a high-profile, albeit currently injured, star to the nation’s capital, marking a significant strategic shift for both franchises involved.
According to sources familiar with the deal, the Mavericks sent Anthony Davis along with guards Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum to the Wizards. In return, Dallas acquired Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, and Marvin Bagley III, alongside a substantial draft capital package consisting of two first-round draft picks and three second-rounders. The first-round selections include the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 pick and the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected pick in 2030, as reported by ESPN.
Mavericks’ Strategic Shift and Salary Implications
For the Dallas Mavericks, the trade represents a clear effort to reshape their roster and manage their financial commitments. The team entered Wednesday on a five-game losing streak, sitting 12th in the Western Conference with a 19-31 record, 3.5 games behind the 10th-place Trail Blazers. By shedding Davis’s substantial contract—he is owed $58.5 million next season with a player option for $62.8 million in 2027-28—as well as Hardy’s $6 million salary and Russell’s $6 million player option, the Mavericks have reportedly dropped below the luxury tax threshold this season, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The incoming players, Middleton, Branham, and Bagley, primarily arrive on expiring contracts, offering Dallas greater flexibility moving forward.
Despite the significant overhaul, the Mavericks may not be finished making moves before Thursday’s deadline. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Dallas is reportedly seeking a first-round pick for center Daniel Gafford, with the Atlanta Hawks reportedly expressing interest.
Wizards Accelerate Rebuilding Efforts with Davis Acquisition
The Washington Wizards’ acquisition of Anthony Davis signals an aggressive acceleration of their rebuilding process, aiming for competitiveness as early as next season. Davis, 32, is the second decorated, albeit injured, star player the Wizards have traded for this season, following their acquisition of Hawks star Trae Young last month. Young has also been sidelined since December due to knee and quadriceps injuries, highlighting Washington’s willingness to invest in high-upside talent despite current health concerns.
A team source indicated that Washington prioritized retaining its own premium draft picks and homegrown young talent, including Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, and Tre Johnson, keeping them out of the trade package for Davis. This strategy suggests the Wizards are building around a core of promising prospects, with Davis and Young expected to provide veteran leadership and star power once healthy. Davis has been out since early January due to ligament damage in his left hand. This season, he has averaged 20.1 points and 11.1 rebounds in 20 games.
The Anthony Davis Factor and Future Outlook
The move to Washington came as a surprise to many NBA observers, despite the widespread expectation that Davis would be traded from Dallas. As Sports Illustrated noted, the destination was the unexpected element. Davis is eligible to sign a contract extension in August, a key consideration for the Wizards as they plan their future around their newly acquired stars.
The Mavericks’ acquisition of Marvin Bagley III, a former second overall pick, has also sparked ‘external trade interest,’ according to NBA insider Marc Stein. While no specific teams have been named, hypotheticals include the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, and Golden State Warriors, suggesting that the Mavericks may still be looking to refine their roster further. The primary goal for Dallas appears to be to not take back much money, as they also reportedly wish to sign Ryan Nembhard and/or Moussa Cisse to standard NBA contracts.
The trade of Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards underscores a league-wide trend of teams making bold, high-stakes moves ahead of the trade deadline, prioritizing long-term roster construction and financial flexibility even when it involves moving established stars.