By Christian Clark, Josh Robbins and David Aldridge
-The Athletic
The Dallas Mavericks are turning the page on the biggest part of last season’s disastrous Luka Dončić trade.
Dallas is sending Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a multi-player trade that will involve Washington’s sending back several draft picks, league sources confirmed to The Athletic.
Davis will head to Washington, along with Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum. Dallas will receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III and draft compensation. The Wizards are likely to waive Exum but plan to keep Russell and Hardy, a team source said.
According to a league source, Dallas will receive the least favorable 2026 first-round pick from the LA Clippers, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, meaning it likely will be 30th in the NBA Draft order. The 2030 first-round pick came from the Wizards’ Chris Paul-for-Jordan Poole trade with the Golden State Warriors a few years ago, and it will convey only if it falls from No. 21 to No. 30. Dallas will also receive three future second-round picks, though none were originally owned by the Wizards.
The Wizards envision a frontcourt of Davis, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly as being one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league. That statement should not be interpreted as meaning wing Kyshawn George will not be a starter or part of the Wizards’ long-term plans. Indeed, George is a central part of Washington’s nucleus and is highly valued for his two-way ability. It’s just that Coulibaly is Washington’s top perimeter defender, and a frontcourt of Davis, Sarr and Coulibaly ought to be a switchable, lengthy defensive menace, capable enough to help compensate for Trae Young’s deficiencies as a defender.
Having Davis and Young should help Washington’s young nucleus — which includes Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Will Riley, Coulibaly, George and Sarr — be more competitive in 2026-27 than it has been this season.
-The Athletic
The Dallas Mavericks are turning the page on the biggest part of last season’s disastrous Luka Dončić trade.
Dallas is sending Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a multi-player trade that will involve Washington’s sending back several draft picks, league sources confirmed to The Athletic.
Davis will head to Washington, along with Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum. Dallas will receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III and draft compensation. The Wizards are likely to waive Exum but plan to keep Russell and Hardy, a team source said.
According to a league source, Dallas will receive the least favorable 2026 first-round pick from the LA Clippers, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, meaning it likely will be 30th in the NBA Draft order. The 2030 first-round pick came from the Wizards’ Chris Paul-for-Jordan Poole trade with the Golden State Warriors a few years ago, and it will convey only if it falls from No. 21 to No. 30. Dallas will also receive three future second-round picks, though none were originally owned by the Wizards.
The Wizards envision a frontcourt of Davis, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly as being one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league. That statement should not be interpreted as meaning wing Kyshawn George will not be a starter or part of the Wizards’ long-term plans. Indeed, George is a central part of Washington’s nucleus and is highly valued for his two-way ability. It’s just that Coulibaly is Washington’s top perimeter defender, and a frontcourt of Davis, Sarr and Coulibaly ought to be a switchable, lengthy defensive menace, capable enough to help compensate for Trae Young’s deficiencies as a defender.
Having Davis and Young should help Washington’s young nucleus — which includes Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Will Riley, Coulibaly, George and Sarr — be more competitive in 2026-27 than it has been this season.