Anthony Davis update proves Mavericks escaped disaster just in time

It’s nearly impossible to truly grade a trade within a year. Initial reactions only go so far. Time is what reveals the real outcome. And in the case of the Dallas Mavericks’ deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, that outcome is starting to look like a massive win. According to Brian Keefe, Davis won’t appear in a game this season.

Time reveals the Dallas Mavericks as the winners of the Davis trade

Dallas sent Davis to Washington at the trade deadline, packaging him with Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum. In return, the Dallas Mavericks received Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Tyus Jones, Marvin Bagley III, along with two first-round picks and three second-rounders.

At the time, it felt like a trade the Mavericks couldn’t win. Wherever Davis went next would always be measured against the return that originally brought him to Dallas: Luka Doncic. And realistically, there was no package out there that could match that kind of value, as the Wizards’ return ultimately showed.

Nonetheless, it’s clear the Mavericks made the right call in moving Davis before it was too late. After arriving at the 2024 trade deadline, the Kentucky product appeared in just 29 of a possible 81 games, good for only 35.8 percent of the time. That wasn’t going to cut it.

Injuries forced Dallas' hand to move Davis

Of course, it’s not Davis’ fault. Injuries are unpredictable, and the big man ran into a stretch of bad luck. But as those issues became a recurring concern, the Mavericks decided to move on. With limited leverage, turning that situation into multiple solid role players (many on expiring deals), along with draft capital, ultimately looks like a win.

Yet, it wasn’t just about moving on from an oft-injured player — it was also about shedding Davis’ hefty contract. The 33-year-old is still owed a staggering $120 million over the next two seasons. Sure, he remains a star, but he’ll be 35 by the end of that deal, and injury concerns only grow more significant with age.

Why the Mavericks came out on top

With the latest news about Davis’ lingering injury, the Mavericks essentially traded a player who wouldn’t play another game this season for a handful of fliers, some of which have exceeded expectations, plus a first-round pick this season, a protected 2030 first, and several second-rounders. What once seemed like a questionable haul now looks far more valuable, especially with Middleton and Bagley III providing usable pieces.

That’s not to suggest the Wizards came out as clear losers. They likely preferred that Davis wouldn’t see the floor again this season, starting the year with essentially no postseason expectations. For the Mavericks, it’s never satisfying to see a player sidelined by injury, but knowing what they traded for him, there’s relief that he didn’t suit up at all this year.

Ultimately, Dallas took a calculated risk trading an already-injured Anthony Davis, and it paid off. With Davis missing the rest of the season, the Mavericks’ haul of role players, draft picks, and flexibility now looks even stronger, proving they came out on top.