Despite starting off rather quiet, the NBA trade window had picked up steam as the deadline rapidly approaches and Wednesday afternoon saw the latest major deal.
Breaking just before 2 p.m. ET, it was announced by NBA insider Shams Charania that the Dallas Mavericks were trading 10-time NBA All-Star and Kentucky Wildcats legend Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks and three second-round picks.
The picks are a 2026 first-round pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 2030 protected Golden State Warriors first-round pick. The second-round picks are in 2026 (Phoenix), 2027 (Chicago) and 2029 (Houston).
It was the second major deal the Wizards had made this window after previously acquiring former Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma star Trae Young.
Davis had been publicly on the trade block for the Mavs as they look to build around No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg in a post Luka Doncic era despite a severe hand injury to the former Wildcats big.
It will mark the fourth NBA team Davis has played for since ending his collegiate career as a one-and-done sensation that was a key factor in leading Kentucky to the 2012 National Championship, to date the most recent the program has won. He played for former coach John Calipari.
After a stellar year in Lexington, Davis was selected No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2012 before joining the Los Angeles Lakers and Lebron James to win the 2020 NBA Championship.
His time in LA came to a close as part of a stunning trade that saw the Mavericks send Doncic to Los Angeles for Davis, though AD never quite seemed to fit what Dallas was building toward, particularly after it was awarded the No. 1 pick and Flagg.
Barring a major change, it seems Washington intends to move forward with Young and Davis leading a young core of Wizards that includes Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson.