Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade is about to pay off even more in free agency

Many criticized the Dallas Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade to the Washington Wizards because of the lack of premium draft capital and intriguing young players Dallas got in return, but the Mavericks project to reap the biggest benefit from the deal this summer, that being the financial flexibility to access the full MLE this summer.

This is because Dallas has a huge expiring contract in Khris Middleton as well as a smaller one in Marvin Bagley III, both players they received in the Davis deal. Dallas may bring one or even both of these players back this summer, but Middleton won't be getting anywhere close compared to his previous contract, so the Mavericks will be able to use the full MLE to get a player in free agency in the $15 million annual salary range. They wouldn't have been able to do this without trading Davis.

Mavericks can use MLE to fully cash in on Davis trade this summer

This could include names like Ayo Dosunmu, Quentin Grimes, and Rui Hachimura, so the Mavericks could undoubtedly get a starting-level player with the space created from the Davis trade. Sure, the Davis trade may have tipped slightly in the Wizards' favor after they got the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, as well as the fact that the 2026 first-round pick they gave Dallas in the deal will be the last pick of the first round, but landing a marquee name with the MLE could change this proposition for Dallas.

The trade has already paid off for the Mavericks in multiple ways besides the financial flexibility created. Bagley III has definitely proved himself as a backup big man worth keeping around going forward, especially given the development of his 3-pointer, and the Mavericks could explore sign-and-trading Middleton if he wasn't willing to re-sign for a cheap figure like the veteran's minimum contract in Dallas.

There's no guarantee Dallas will land a really helpful free agent with the MLE, of course, but with a talented new front office spearheaded by Masai Ujiri, there's a very good chance they can make good use of that or the $20.8 million trade exception created from the Davis deal.

Dallas' new front office has the tools to make great use of MLE

Things may be different if Dallas didn't have a trusted infrastructure in place with their new front office, but not only have they created financial flexibility through this deal, but they have the right players in place to use this flexibility to their advantage.

At this point, there's practically no way the Mavericks don't come away as clear winners from the deal unless Davis has some absurd comeback season. The Wizards were practically the only team in the league willing to give up what they did for a 33-year-old Davis coming off the most injury-riddled season of his career, and the Mavericks appear smart to have gotten off him while they did, regardless of whether their return didn't compare to the Luka Doncic trade whatsoever.

The Davis trade gave Dallas the financial flexibility to build a playoff team around Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg next season, especially if they can hit a home run in the draft and with the MLE/trade exception. Dallas still has yet to get their biggest win from the trade at this point, which will hopefully come this summer in the form of whichever free agent they can lure with the full use of the MLE.

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