Wizards 2026 NBA trade deadline ratings after Trae Young, Anthony Davis bombed

Washington The Wizards haven’t had a winning season since 2017-18but they are doing everything they can to change that next year. They acquired four-time All-Star running back Trae Young and a five-time All-NBA big man Anthony Davis over the past two months, signaling a new era in the nation’s capital.

The Wizards acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks on January 7 and Davis of the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Here’s a full rundown of what they sourced and shipped:

Acquired:

• Mr. Trae Young
• F Anthony Davis
• Mr. D’Angelo Russell
• Mr Jaden Hardy
• Mr. Dante Ecum

sent by:

• Mr CJ McCollum
• F Corey Kispert
• F Chris Middleton
• Mr AJ Johnson
• Mr. Malachi Branham
• C Marvin Bagley III
• 2026 First Round Pick (OKC)
• 2030 Top-20 Protected Picks in the First Round (GSV)
• Second Round Pick 2026 (PHKS)
• Second Round Pick 2027 (CHI)
• Second Round Pick 2029 (HOU)

In short, Washington added two stars without giving up any core or lottery players. That’s because Atlanta and Dallas wanted out of the contracts of Young and Davis, who were making a combined $100.4 million this season. In addition, Young has a $49 million player option for next year, while Davis is due to earn $58.4 million before a $62.7 million player option for 2027-28.

The Wizards have given the Hawks and Mavericks financial flexibility by sending expiring contracts like McCollum, Middleton, Branham and Bagley in addition to affordable long-term deals like Kispert and Johnson. They will have less room to move forward now, but they have two new stars that will help them be competitive next season and possibly beyond. Combine that with their young core and whoever they draw in the lottery this summer, and it’s easily their best look since they made the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Wizards trade deadline grade: B+

Washington couldn’t have done better value in any of these deals, other than getting equity back from Atlanta for helping it clean up its books. However, he now has the least financial flexibility since team president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins Supermax contract of Bradley Beal with the Phoenix Suns shortly after they took over in the 2023 offseason.

On the one hand, it is a sign that the reconstruction has progressed. Dawkins and Winger not only dismantled the previous roster assembled by former general manager Tommy Shepard, but built a foundation of young talent and acquired two stars to jumpstart the organization into playoff contention after drafting lottery picks this summer. The 2026 class has three superstars: Kansas’ Darrin Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and BIU’s AJ Dibants. If they get any of those three, the fan base could start talking about championship banners for the next few years.

On the other hand, Wizards have to be careful. They can’t sign Young or Davis to long-term extensions before hooking up with a young core, because they’d lock themselves into a bad situation. Additionally, Davis has to prove he can stay healthy, having played more than 65 games in a season just once since 2019.

Giving Young an extension through next year makes more sense, as he will be on an expiring contract if and when he picks up the player option. A two-year deal with a player option for a third and an average annual salary of $35 million could work for both parties, as it gives the 27-year-old security while giving Washington more time to evaluate how he fits into the puzzle. Ultimately, it could either trade him or re-sign him.

Young and Davis fill the team’s two biggest needs entering the season, which were a true point guard and a true center. The Wizards had neither, as second-year guard Bub Carrington struggled at times and second-year point guard Alex Sarr is a natural power forward. The last player has he struggled against elite centers like Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, each weighing about 45 pounds. Putting the 253-pound Davis, who is a five-time All-Defensive honoree and three-time NBA blocks leader, under center will allow Sara to avoid those mismatches.

The most immediate mission is to not allow an injured Young or Davis to jeopardize the team’s retention of the team’s top eight protected draft picks. Young has not played since December 27 due to knee and quad diseases and will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In addition, Young has not played since January 8 due to damage to the ligaments in the hand but no surgery will be required, according to the Associated Press.

Washington needs to rest them as much as possible to secure a bottom four spot in the standings, which would guarantee keeping their pick. Once he achieves that goal, he must then avoid being locked into bad contracts with any star.

If the Wizards accomplish both missions, and Young and Davis lead them to the playoffs next season, then there won’t be much to criticize. But if something goes wrong during that journey, then these moves won’t age well.