Yesterday, the Wizards made a franchise-altering move, trading for four players headlined by 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis. Below are a few reasons why this trade could work from a Washington Wizards perspective, and why it is at least worth paying closer attention to.
On Wednesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Dallas Mavericks are trading Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks.
It is important to start by saying that most blockbuster trades do not end in championships. More often than not, they fail to meet expectations. That is the easy answer. The more interesting question is whether this move helps Washington meaningfully change its trajectory.
Anthony Davis will turn 33 in about a month. He is older, has dealt with a long list of injuries throughout his career, and has appeared in only 20 games this season. In those games, he has still been productive, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game.
Despite its struggles in the standings, this Wizards roster is packed with young talent. Twenty-year-old big man and former No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr is averaging 17.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Twenty-two-year-old forward Kyshawn George is posting 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Rookie guard Tre Johnson is scoring nearly 13 points per game, while youngsters Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Cam Whitmore, Tristan Vukcevic, and others continue to contribute meaningful minutes.
Washington also recently acquired four-time All-Star Trae Young, who is just 27 years old and has averaged roughly 25 points per game over his seven-year career. While it is unlikely the Wizards push hard this season, next year’s outlook is more compelling. A healthy Anthony Davis paired with an elite scorer in Young and a young core that has shown flashes could represent a shift away from a full teardown and toward something more competitive.
The Wizards also hold a top-eight protected first-round pick. If the pick lands between one and eight, Washington keeps it. If it falls ninth or later, it goes to New York. Given their current position near the bottom of the standings, there is a strong chance they retain that pick and add another high-end piece to the mix.
The Davis trade clearly raises the team’s floor. A recent, though imperfect, comparison can be drawn to the Houston Rockets. After bottoming out from 2020 through 2023 while focusing heavily on young players and draft picks, Houston added a couple veterans and quickly jumped from 22 wins to 41, then to 52 the following season. Davis and Young are significantly more dynamic than those additions, which at least opens the door to a similar leap if things break right.
The Wizards may try to get a brief look at this group together this season, but many expect them to prioritize health and chemistry heading into next year. While the initial reaction to the trade was mixed, Washington did not give up an overwhelming amount of long-term value. At minimum, the move gives fans a legitimate reason to pay closer attention next season.
