The Washington Wizards made some of the biggest trades before the 2026 NBA trade deadline. One month before the trade deadline, the Wizards got an early start on making some franchise-altering moves by adding the All-Star guard, Trae Young.
Then, on the eve of the deadline, they struck one of the most stunning trades of the year by acquiring Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks. On Thursday night, Trae Young celebrated the acquisition with a throwback post on social media.
Davis, a 32-year-old former first-overall pick, has had it rough over the last couple of years. The All-Star has dealt with many injuries, and was included in the most shocking trade of the decade last season.
Although Davis knew he might be on the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade block during the 2024-2025 season, he was surprised to find out he was getting moved to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for a package headlined by the superstar, Luka Doncic. From the jump, the Mavs were heavily criticized for the move, which put Davis in a tough position.
It didn’t help that Davis was already dealing with a setback upon his arrival. He appeared in just nine games with the Mavs during the 2024-2025 season.
Davis looked forward to a fresh start in 2025-2026, but the same issues popped up. On two occasions, he missed chunks of games with the Mavs. This year, he appeared in just 20 games. Although he thrived by posting averages of 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks, Davis couldn’t stay on the floor. As a result, the Mavs struggled to find consistency.
The Wizards and the Mavs included the Charlotte Hornets in a three-team deal. The Mavs acquired Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Marvin Bagley, and Tyus Jones, along with a haul of picks. Davis was joined by D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum in going to Washington.
It will be a while before the NBA sees the AD-Young connection in action. Both players are nursing injuries without a target return date. However, it is very clear they look forward to potentially having a long-term future playing together on the Wizards.
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