Anthony Davis traded to Wizards in eight-player deal that reshapes Dallas’ deadline plans

Anthony Davis is headed to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster trade completed Wednesday, February 4, 2026 (ET), ending his short and injury-interrupted stint with the Dallas Mavericks. The deal moves eight players and a bundle of draft picks, and it signals a clear pivot for both franchises: Washington adds a marquee star to build around, while Dallas turns Davis into depth, flexibility, and future assets ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.

Davis has appeared in 20 games this season and has been sidelined since January 8 with a hand injury, making the timing notable: Washington is betting on his impact once healthy, and Dallas is choosing certainty and optionality over waiting for a late-season ramp-up.

Trade terms: who goes where

The picks were a major part of the price. Dallas comes out with a veteran wing in Middleton, additional rotation pieces, and a meaningful stash of draft capital.

Why Washington made the swing

For Washington, “AD to the Wizards” is less about a single splash and more about a reset of identity. The Wizards have been searching for a foundational centerpiece who can elevate both ends of the floor and set a higher baseline for competitive basketball. When healthy, Davis still fits that description: rim protection, rebounding, and efficient scoring that can carry possessions without needing constant play calls.

This season, Davis is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 20 games, shooting 50.6% from the field. Those are star-level two-way numbers even in a limited sample.

The immediate question is health. Davis’ hand injury kept him out of action for most of January, and Washington’s next few weeks will likely be about medical timelines, minutes management, and integrating him without rushing the ramp-up.

Why Dallas moved on so quickly

Dallas’ decision reads like a course correction. Davis arrived in Dallas as part of last year’s franchise-shaking movement tied to a Luka Dončić trade, but his availability never stabilized. In a competitive Western Conference environment, a team can’t afford to have its plan hinge on “when he’s back” forever—especially with other major salaries and a win-now timeline.

The Mavericks now shift toward a broader rotation approach. Middleton can provide shot-making, spacing, and wing size, while younger pieces like Branham and AJ Johnson offer developmental upside. Bagley gives them frontcourt depth, and the picks create flexibility for a follow-up move—either Thursday or in the offseason.

This also intersects with Dallas’ guard ecosystem. With Kyrie Irving still central to their offense, the Mavericks can prioritize lineups that maximize spacing and ball-handling, rather than building around a big-man hub that requires a specific health and usage profile.

What Washington is getting beyond Davis

The Wizards didn’t only acquire a headliner. They also added three guards/handlers with different use-cases:

• D’Angelo Russell can stabilize half-court creation and run pick-and-rolls.

• Jaden Hardy brings scoring bursts and developmental upside.

• Dante Exum adds defense and secondary playmaking when healthy.

That trio matters because it gives Washington options depending on Davis’ availability. If Davis misses time, Washington can still build competitive lineups around guard creation. If Davis returns quickly, those guards help solve the “who feeds the star” problem and reduce the need for Davis to self-generate every possession.

What Dallas is taking back: Middleton, depth, and picks

Middleton is the most recognizable name coming back. While no longer the same nightly engine he was at his peak, he can still function as a connector who shoots, makes the extra pass, and punishes mismatches. If Dallas keeps him, he helps balance lineups that can get overly guard-heavy. If Dallas flips him, his contract structure and veteran profile are useful for deadline math.

Branham and AJ Johnson give Dallas additional perimeter inventory—young guards who can be developed, packaged, or used as injury insurance. Bagley helps cover minutes in the frontcourt, especially valuable when teams start stacking bigs for matchup reasons late in the season.

The picks may be the true win condition for Dallas. With the deadline arriving Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET, those assets can immediately be used to pursue another player—or held to keep Dallas flexible in a summer where multiple teams are expected to reshuffle.

What to watch next

Two things will determine how this trade is judged:

1. Davis’ health timeline. If he returns soon and looks like a defensive anchor again, Washington’s gamble becomes easier to justify.

2. Dallas’ next move. The Mavericks now have more pieces and picks than they did 24 hours ago; whether they convert that into a cleaner, more durable rotation will define the short-term outcome.

For now, the headline is simple: Anthony Davis is a Wizard, and both teams are signaling that “standing pat” is no longer an option.

Sources consulted: NBA.com; ESPN; Reuters; Los Angeles Times