Anthony Davis Traded to Washington in Deadline-Shaking Eight-Player Deal With Dallas

Anthony Davis is headed to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster deadline-week trade that sends the 10-time All-Star from Dallas to a rebuilding franchise looking for a new on-court identity. The multi-player swap also moves a package of veterans, young pieces, and draft capital to the Mavericks as Dallas pivots again from its post–Luka Dončić plan.

The deal, agreed Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, is expected to be finalized after standard league processing.

The Full Trade Package and What It Means on the Floor

Washington is set to receive:

• Anthony Davis

• Jaden Hardy

• D’Angelo Russell

• Dante Exum

Dallas is set to receive:

• Khris Middleton

• AJ Johnson

• Malaki Branham

• Marvin Bagley III

• Two first-round picks and three second-round picks

For Washington, the headline is obvious: Davis instantly becomes the best player on the roster and a franchise-level defensive anchor when healthy. He has averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20 games this season, and his presence changes how opponents attack the paint from the moment he steps on the court.

For Dallas, the return is less about replacing Davis directly and more about reshaping the roster’s mix of wings, creation, and flexibility. Middleton brings proven two-way playoff experience, while Johnson and Branham add youth and shot-making upside. Bagley supplies frontcourt minutes and a different offensive profile than the rim-protecting Davis archetype.

Why Dallas Moved On From Davis So Fast

The Mavericks’ decision reads like an admission that the Davis-centered version of their roster never stabilized. Davis arrived as the centerpiece of a major swing, but injuries and fit questions followed him, and the team’s timeline remained muddy: win-now expectations without the margin for missed games, plus a roster that required constant patchwork behind him.

This trade turns Davis into:

• Draft equity (firsts and seconds) that can be rerouted again quickly

• A veteran wing (Middleton) who can help organize late-clock offense

• Multiple rotation pieces, which matters for durability across a long season

It also resets Dallas’ “value chain.” Instead of tying the roster to one fragile fulcrum, the Mavericks are spreading risk across contracts and picks—an approach that often signals a front office preparing for another big move, not settling into a finished build.

Washington’s Bet: Star Gravity and a New Culture

The Wizards have lived in the gray zone between rebuilding and trying to remain competitive, and this trade is a statement that they’re willing to take a big swing on top-end talent.

The short-term benefits:

• A defensive ceiling Washington hasn’t had in years

• A clear focal point for player development around a high-IQ big

• Ticket-and-visibility momentum that can change how the franchise recruits and retains talent

The risks are just as real:

• Davis’ availability will determine whether this is transformational or merely exciting

• Washington’s spacing, playmaking hierarchy, and late-game offense will need immediate clarity

• If the Wizards keep pushing toward the middle of the standings, the draft pathway narrows

Still, the move is coherent: Washington is buying star gravity now and trusting that the roster can be tuned around it later.

The Supporting Pieces: Russell, Exum, Hardy, and the Incoming Mavs Quartet

The “secondary” names matter because they decide whether the trade is functional immediately.

For Washington:

• D’Angelo Russell can stabilize half-court offense and bring pick-and-roll chemistry with Davis, but defensive matchups will dictate his closing-time role.

• Dante Exum gives point-of-attack defense and connective passing—valuable on a team about to face more national attention and tougher scouting.

• Jaden Hardy is the upside swing: if he turns into a consistent scorer, Washington’s backcourt suddenly looks much more dynamic.

For Dallas:

• Khris Middleton fits as a dependable wing who can shoot, pass, and defend across positions—especially useful if Dallas wants a more balanced, switchable lineup.

• AJ Johnson is the developmental lottery ticket: athletic tools plus room to grow into a rotation guard.

• Malaki Branham can add scoring punch and secondary creation.

• Marvin Bagley III offers rim pressure and rebounding, though the defensive trade-offs will need a scheme that protects him.

What Still Needs to Be Answered

A few key unknowns will determine how this trade is remembered:

• How quickly can Washington build an offense that maximizes Davis without overburdening him?

• Which draft picks (and protections) are attached to the first- and second-rounders?

• Does Dallas treat Middleton as a core piece—or as an asset that can be flipped again?

• What does Washington do next: add more win-now help, or keep preserving future flexibility?

What Comes Next: 5 Scenarios to Watch Before and After the Deadline

• Washington adds a shooter/wing defender to complement Davis if early lineups look cramped.

• Dallas consolidates picks and contracts into another big trade if a star becomes available and the math works.

• Washington’s rotation shifts toward defense-first identity with Davis as the system, not just the star.

• Dallas retools around depth and availability and prioritizes continuity rather than a single headline name.

• A follow-up move involving one of the new guards/wings if either team decides the fit isn’t clean after a few games.

This trade isn’t just about Anthony Davis changing jerseys. It’s two franchises making opposite kinds of bets: Washington buying elite talent and relevance now, Dallas turning a star into optionality. The winner won’t be decided on announcement day—it’ll be decided by health, lineup answers, and what each team does with the flexibility this deal creates.