Mavericks trade Anthony Davis to Wizards, sources say - ESPN

The Mavericks have agreed to trade 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis to the Wizards in an eight-player blockbuster designed to maximize Dallas' flexibility to build around star rookie Cooper Flagg, sources told ESPN.

The Mavs will send Davis and guards Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round draft picks and three second-rounders, sources said.

The first-round picks the Wizards included in the deal are the Thunder's 2026 selection and the Warriors' top-20-protected pick in 2030, according to sources.

The Mavs had been aggressively exploring the market for Davis since the early November firing of former general manager Nico Harrison, a decision governor Patrick Dumont made in large part because of the fan backlash stemming from last year's trade of perennial MVP contender Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

Davis, the centerpiece of the return in the Doncic trade, was limited to only 29 games in a Mavs uniform because of a variety of injuries. He is owed $58.5 million next season, has a player option for $62.8 million in 2027-28 and is eligible to sign a contract extension in August. Davis has been out since early January because of ligament damage in his left hand.

Davis landing with the Wizards marks the second decorated, albeit injured, star player acquired this season by Washington. The rebuilding Wizards also traded for Hawks star Trae Young last month, but the veteran guard has not played since December because of knee and quadriceps injuries.

The Mavs also shed Hardy's $6 million salary and Russell's $6 million player option for next season in a trade built around the expiring contracts of Middleton, Branham and