Why Washington made Anthony Davis trade to the Mavericks

The The Washington Wizards made one of the most important moves NBA season on Wednesday, acquiring Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks just one day before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The deal signaled a clear shift in Washington’s organizational direction as the franchise pivots toward short-term competitiveness.

ESPN’s Tim McMahon outlined the Wizards’ reasoning shortly after the trade was completed, pointing to Washington’s a desire to speed up his timeline without destroying its development foundation.

“Wizards thought process on AD trade: With intent to be competitive next season, Washington added 10-time All-Star big to pair with Trae Young without giving up local young talent or top picks,” McMahon wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Washington acquired Davis along with Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum. In return, the Mavericks received Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malachi Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks and three second-round selections. The move reshapes both rosters, but for the Wizards, it represents a decisive step toward contention rather than a long-term rebuild.

Davis, 32, joined Washington in his first full season, and Dallas is still going strong. He has been limited by injuries, appearing in just 20 games and is currently sidelined with a ligament injury in his hand. When available, Davis averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three-point range in 30.4 minutes per game. Despite his limited availability, Washington saw Davis’ two-way impact and playoff experience as central to its long-term vision.

The Anthony Davis-Trae Young pairing solidifies the Wizards’ long-term vision

The acquisition follows another big move earlier in the season. In January, The Wizards traded for Trae Young in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert outside Washington. Pairing Young with Davis gives the Wizards a high-level pick-and-roll foundation and a clear offensive-defensive balance to build around.

Washington’s front office emphasized financial and asset flexibility in completing the deal. The Wizards were able to acquire Davis without parting with homegrown young talent or top draft capital, preserving long-term flexibility while reshaping the roster with established stars.

For the rest of the season, Washington’s focus remains mostly evaluative. The Wizards enter the game at 13-36, ranked 14th in the Eastern Conference standings. While contention in the postseason is unlikely, the organization expects the remainder of the schedule to serve as a bridge to a more competitive 2026 campaign, aided by the upcoming lottery pick.

Washington begins a doubleheader Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons (37-12) at 7:00 PM ET as the franchise turns its attention to next season with a dramatically altered outlook.