Only player Mavericks should keep from the Anthony Davis trade isn't who you think

The Anthony Davis experiment has come to an end for the Dallas Mavericks, as the 10-time All-Star was traded to the Washington Wizards in a trade the team couldn't ignore. Dallas shipped the big man out of town for multiple draft picks and players like Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, Malaki Branham, and AJ Johnson. On paper, this seems like a win as Dallas gained Middleton, a three-time All-Star, and Bagley III, a former No. 2 pick, despite both players being on expiring deals.

Yet, fans are forgetting about AJ Johnson, who still has two more years after this one on his rookie contract. He is a young combo guard with plenty of upside and room for growth. Johnson is a six-foot-five guard who is in his second year in the league. This means he is the exact player Dallas needed, as he can grow and develop around Cooper Flagg.

Remember, the Mavericks proved they are in a rebuild mode by trading away Davis. They shipped him away for numerous picks and a couple of expiring contracts. This is why Dallas absorbed Middleton and Bagley III's contract. They are both in the final year of their contracts, meaning they are not guaranteed to be back with the Mavs next season.

AJ Johnson has the potential to be a silver lining in the Davis trade

The opposite, though, can be said about Johnson. He is a young, developing guard who could be important for Dallas' future, and he is the only player in the deal that the Mavericks should consider keeping beyond this season.

For starters, Johnson is a 21-year-old with freak athleticism. His offensive skills, in addition to his defensive pedigree, make him a top candidate to make a big leap in the league if he gets the proper reps that he needs. Plus, his recent success with Washington can't be overlooked.

In two games this month, Johnson has played some of his best basketball of the season. On February 1, he scored 17 points on 53.8 percent shooting. He then had another successful game on February 3 when he dropped 14 points. This is an improvement from his regular-season average of 2.8 points per game, and he showed that he can step up when given an increased role.

The difference was his increase in minutes per game. Before February, Johnson had not averaged more than 11 minutes per game. Over the past two games, though, he has averaged 25.5 minutes. So, more minutes mean more development and success from Johnson.

Not to mention, more playing will help his development. Remember, Johnson is a quick guard with decent vision who can attack the paint with ease. He has great quickness, as he can keep his defenders off balance when knifing toward the bucket.

Plus, his defense is gradually improving. He does a great job keeping pace with his man, and his long wingspan makes things difficult for the opposition. He is six-foot-five with a 6-foot-9, meaning he can guard multiple positions as well. So, in simple terms, there is plenty of promise from Johnson if he can get stronger and improve his 3-point shot.

This is something Dallas should take note of. Johnson already has the skills to develop in the league, but it'll be up to coach Jason Kidd to give him adequate playing time. He should be able to get viable minutes towards the end of the season, as Dallas experiments with multiple lineups.

The Mavericks were in desperate need of more players on Cooper Flagg's timeline, and with Johnson only being 21 years old, he has time to grow in Dallas. Mavs fans will fall in love with Johnson's ability to finish above the rim, as he is always a threat to throw down a big slam in transition.

So, only time will tell if Johnson fully develops and becomes a piece of the Mavericks' young core. As mentioned, he has the assets to be a great option in Dallas. It'll be up to Johnson to prove he deserves be part of Dallas' long-term plans. Who knows, maybe he might turn into a blessing in disguise, similar to Max Christie, who was an extra player thrown into the Davis trade but has turned into an indispensable piece in Dallas.