For the second time in two years, Anthony Davis had to find a new home, this time in the nation’s capital. The Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks pulled off a blockbuster eight-player trade. The ten-time All-Star’s stint with the Mavericks ended after only 29 games, as injuries kept piling on. While keeping the veteran on board proved detrimental to their success, the Wizards can use it to their advantage.

“For Washington, the expectation among sources is that Davis and Young will play very little, if at all, the remainder of the season as the Wizards chase lottery luck, and that both stars will get long-term deals this summer,” according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “What those look like, and how they impact Washington’s books going forward, will also play a part in the ultimate outlook of these trades.”

With a 13-36 record, the Wizards are second-to-last in the East and firmly in the hunt for a top lottery pick (they’re currently fifth in the lottery odds). Acquiring an injured Davis, therefore, aligns perfectly with their plan to tank for the remainder of the season.

From being in straight swap talks with the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young to now suiting up alongside him in Washington, it’s been a crazy trade season for Davis. The Wizards are expected to give him ample time to recover from his ligament injury. In his first full season with the Mavericks, the veteran appeared in just 20 games and is expected to miss a significant portion of the remaining regular season.

Davis’ absences have stemmed from multiple issues, including adductor and knee problems, before the latest ligament damage to his left hand. He’s played in more than 56 games once in the last six seasons.

In fact, the No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who joined the team about eight months later, has played more games than Davis.

Davis will be reevaluated in late February, according to initial reports. Young, currently out with knee and quadriceps injuries, will also only be reevaluated after the All-Star break.

However, when both are fit, they can guide a young core of Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington.

The Wizards rank dead last in net rating (-10.7) and second-to-last in both offensive rating (109.3) and defensive rating (120.0), so the plan for this season at least appears to be clear. On the other hand, the team that moved Davis also seems to have benefited from this trade.

How the Mavericks win despite parting ways with future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis?

The Mavericks received Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, and Marvin Bagley III. Importantly, they also gained a 2026 first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder and a protected 2030 Golden State Warriors first-round pick. The package also includes three second-round picks from the Phoenix Suns in 2026, a 2027 pick from the Chicago Bulls, and a 2029 pick from the Houston Rockets.

Consequently, they clear cap space while shaping a future around Cooper Flagg. Davis was due $58 million next season and a $62 million player option the following year. He also wanted a new deal this summer.

By shipping multiple players, the Mavericks have shaved $69.12 million from the payroll, while new arrivals added $44.12 million. As a result, the franchise saves close to $25 million. They were up against the second apron, and they are now $7.5 million below the tax line.

Middleton, however, is past his prime, and it’s hard not to imagine that the Mavericks front office would have gotten a better deal had they been patient.