Anthony Davis: Washington Wizards acquire 10-time All-Star in huge trade with Dallas Mavericks

The Washington Wizards are acquiring Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in an eight‑player trade that also sends multiple draft picks to Dallas, according to a person close to the deal.

The move signals the Mavericks' decision to move on from the widely-criticised trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package headlined by Davis last year.

That deal, engineered by former general manager Nico Harrison in the middle of the night, infuriated fans and has hung over the franchise ever since.

• When is NBA next live on Sky Sports?
• Download Sky Sports app for analysis, video and more
• Get Sky Sports or stream with contract-free with NOW

Speculation around Davis' future intensified after Harrison was fired in November following a poor start to the season.

Davis, a 10‑time All‑Star, has played just 31 of a possible 84 games across two partial seasons in Dallas, battling a series of injuries including a core muscle issue, a calf strain and, most recently, a left‑hand injury suffered while defending Utah's Lauri Markkanen on January 8.

Washington will send Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham and Marvin Bagley III to Dallas, along with two first‑round picks and three second‑rounders. In return, the Wizards will receive guards Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum.

The deal marks a dramatic shift for Washington, who have spent the past two seasons deep in a rebuild, losing 67 and 64 games.

After trading for Trae Young last month, the Wizards now add Davis to a young core that includes 2024 No 2 pick Alex Sarr.

It remains unclear how much Young or Davis will play this season, and that may suit Washington's interests; the Wizards lose their top draft pick if it falls outside the top eight.

Nevertheless, the acquisition of Davis suggests the franchise is ready to move beyond waiting for lottery luck. A future line-up built around Young, Davis, Sarr and complementary pieces could be competitive in the Eastern Conference, though Davis' durability remains a concern.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

For Dallas, the trade represents a reset and a commitment to rookie sensation Cooper Flagg as the new face of the franchise. The No 1 pick recently set an NBA scoring record for a teenager with 49 points against Charlotte and has posted three straight 30‑point games.

Despite his emergence, the Mavericks have lost five straight and sit 12th in the West at 19‑31.

With Kyrie Irving unlikely to return this season after tearing his ACL last March, Dallas is on track to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

Harrison's gamble that Davis and Irving could form a long‑term contender never materialised; the pair shared the court only once before injuries derailed the experiment.

Watch the NBA All Star Game on Sunday February 15 live on Sky Sports, with coverage from 9.30pm. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.