For years, the NBA sold romance. Franchises built around stars. Cities fell in love with players. Loyalty mattered.
This week, that illusion thinned a little more.
Anthony Davis, a 10-time All-Star and one of the league's defining big men, was moved from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards in a sprawling eight-player deal. It landed less like a sporting decision and more like a corporate restructure.
Names flew across the ticker. Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum head to Washington alongside Davis, while Dallas receives Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III and five draft picks.
It reads more like an asset sheet than a team sheet.
Dallas Cash in Chips for Flexibility
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> BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. [pic.twitter.com/sfrQQubI5i](https://t.co/sfrQQubI5i)
>
> — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) [February 4, 2026](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/2019119800098963674?ref_src=twsrc^tfw)
Fans lose another hero as Anthony Davis becomes the latest star moved in basketball’s business era.
The Dallas Mavericks were not simply trading a player. They were trading the risk attached to Davis' current hand injury and availability. Davis has been sidelined since January 8 with a hand injury and has appeared in only 20 of Dallas' first 50 games this season. He remains one of the league's elite two-way players. In his 29 starts he averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks, while providing his usual defensive presence. However, in today's NBA, availability is the currency.
Dallas sits 12th in the Western Conference at 19–31 and are currently outside the playoff picture. So the Mavericks front office changed their plans. Khris Middleton brings playoff and championship experience, and Marvin Bagley III adds frontcourt depth, while D'Angelo Russell heads to Washington alongside Davis in the deal.
More importantly, the Mavericks acquired two future first-round picks and three second-rounders. Draft capital is now viewed as the league's most valuable currency. For Dallas, those picks represent control, flexibility and leverage in future trades.Therefore, in modern basketball economics, flexibility is now valued more than keeping a single star player.
Washington Gamble on Star Appeal
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The Wizards sit at 13–36, are deep into a rebuild, and have seen attendance and interest decline as momentum fades.
The addition of Anthony Davis doesn't change that overnight, but he does provide the Wizards with a marquee player and an anchor for their defence, pairing Davis with recently acquired Trae Young, who has yet to make his debut due to injury, to give fans hope of a new era.
That said, there is still a risk. Davis carries an injury history, and the price to acquire him was high, as they had to move multiple players and send Dallas five draft picks, including two first-rounders and three second-round selections.
Trading for Anthony Davis is not a patient rebuild but a move to restore short-term credibility. The Wizards have effectively purchased a premium brand to refresh their shopfront.
Fans Left Behind in the Numbers Game
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Fans can tell the difference. When you once purchased a jersey you expected to be worn for many, many years, you can now almost count on the fact that your current favourite player will no longer be on your team's roster after February. Davis joined Dallas in February 2025 in the controversial Luka Dončić trade, a move that later contributed to the dismissal of general manager Nico Harrison, and now he is gone as well.
There seems to be no continuity in this league. The terminology and language around trades have changed as well. In the past there were discussions about contracts, salary cap space, a package of players received, etc., but now it often feels as though there is no person involved, only line items on a balance sheet. It is efficient, it is logical, but it feels harsh at times.
The NBA's Future Is Corporate
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None of this is accidental. The NBA is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. Owners think like investors. Front offices act like analysts. Success is measured in long-term returns as much as wins. The Davis trade simply makes that reality plain. Eight players. Five picks. One superstar. Not just a basketball deal. A business transaction. The sport still thrills. The arenas still roar. Yet behind every bounce of the ball, the financial calculations are already ticking.