Anthony Davis Traded to Wizards as Mavericks Fully Embrace the Cooper Flagg Era

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February 5, 2026
Anthony Davis

The Dallas Mavericks have officially moved on from another rough time in the team’s history.

The Mavericks have agreed to trade 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a shocking eight-player blockbuster. This move is meant to give Dallas more roster and financial flexibility as they shift their long-term focus to rookie Cooper Flagg, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Davis, along with Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum, will go to Washington as part of the deal. The Mavericks got Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round draft picks, and three second-round picks in return.

Sources say that the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 pick and the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected 2030 pick are both first-round picks.

Why the Mavericks Moved On From Anthony Davis

After firing former general manager Nico Harrison in early November, Dallas had been actively looking to trade Davis. The decision was mostly based on how angry fans were after last season’s shocking trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Davis, who was brought in as part of the Dončić trade, never got the chance to fully settle in in Dallas. He only played 29 games for the Mavericks because of injuries, and the long-awaited pairing with Kyrie Irving never happened.

Davis hurt his adductor muscle in his first game with the Mavs, which kept him out for six weeks. Irving tore his ACL less than a month later. In the end, the two stars only played together in one game.

Dallas was at greater financial risk because Davis was owed $58.5 million next season, had a $62.8 million player option for 2027–28, and could sign a new deal this August.

The Cooper Flagg Pivot Changes Everything

When the Mavericks beat the odds in the NBA Draft Lottery, everything changed.

Dallas had only a 1.8% chance of getting the first overall pick, but they did and chose Cooper Flagg, a generational talent who changed the course of the franchise right away.

Flagg has lived up to the hype at only 19 years old. He averages 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, even though he plays with a supporting cast that is hurt. Dallas is now completely focused on making Flagg the center of its franchise after the Davis trade.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks says that the Mavericks also went below the luxury tax by moving Davis, Hardy, and Russell’s player option. Dallas now expects to pay about $150 million in guaranteed salary next season. This gives the front office some leeway going into an offseason that could include another lottery pick.

Wizards Push Toward Competitiveness

For Washington, the trade is a risky bet.

The Wizards have quietly moved from a deep rebuild to being competitive by adding Trae Young, whom they got from the Hawks last month, to Davis. Both veterans are out right now—Young has knee and quadriceps injuries, and Davis has ligament damage in his left hand—but the team thinks they can lead a playoff push once they are healthy.

Washington was able to get Davis without giving up any of its best young players, like Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson.

A source close to the team said that the Wizards put protecting their homegrown core ahead of getting star power by using extra draft picks.

Financial and Roster Impact for Dallas

The Mavericks structured the deal around expiring contracts, taking back Middleton, Branham, and Bagley while shedding long-term salary commitments.

This reset positions Dallas to:

  • Build a roster timeline aligned with Cooper Flagg
  • Maintain cap flexibility for future free-agent pursuits
  • Accumulate draft capital for either player development or future trades

Dallas enters the stretch run of the season at 19–31, riding a five-game losing streak and sitting 12th in the Western Conference, 3.5 games behind the final Play-In spot.

While the short-term outlook remains challenging, the long-term vision is now clear.

End of One Plan, Start of Another

Harrison once said that the Mavericks had a “three- to four-year championship window” built around Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving after trading Dončić last year. That dream never came true.

Dallas is now writing a new story.

The Anthony Davis era ends almost as soon as it starts, and the Cooper Flagg era begins with cap space, draft picks, and patience finally in line.

We don’t know if this reset will help the Mavericks get back into the running, but one thing is certain: Dallas has made its choice.

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