When the trade deadline dust settled, the shock wasn’t just that Anthony Davis had been moved. It was where and how.
The Dallas Mavericks negotiated Davis’ blockbuster deal with the Washington Wizards without informing him or his agent, Rich Paul, that Washington was even a serious suitor. According to ESPN’s Evan Sidery, Davis and Paul only learned the Wizards were in the mix once the trade took place.
“The Mavs negotiated with the Wizards without the knowledge of Davis and Paul, who weren’t aware Washington was a serious suitor until the trade was done,” Sidery wrote.
However, Dallas had explored the market for weeks. Rumors linked Davis to teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors, and Paul was actively involved in exploring potential pathways. But once those talks stalled, injuries complicating leverage and contract structures muddying flexibility, the Mavericks pivoted.
And they did so quietly. Rather than risk Davis’ camp influencing the process or steering negotiations elsewhere, Dallas chose to operate behind closed doors. The priority was maximizing value, not managing optics. Relationships, in this case, came second to control.
Internally, the shift toward a new direction had already begun. After firing Nico Harrison, the Mavericks’ front office, led by Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, began retooling around reigning No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
With Flagg emerging as the franchise cornerstone post-Luka Doncic, Dallas viewed Davis’ massive contract and durability concerns as mismatched with its timeline.
Additionally, the numbers told part of the story. Davis has battled 296 recorded injuries across 51 different body areas throughout his career. This season alone, he has appeared in just 20 games. A $58.5 million bag is due for him next season, with a $62.8 million player option looming in 2027-28.
Is Anthony Davis’ Wizard Trade a Homecoming in Making?
Anthony Davis (Image Credits: Imagn)
At face value, Davis’ landing in Washington feels like a clean separation. But history suggests Davis’ long-term stability depends on alignment, role clarity, competitive stakes, and organizational vision.
His healthiest and most consistent stretch came with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had the best idea of structure and expectations.
But while Washington offers opportunity, it does not yet offer certainty.
If alignment falters, durability questions tend to resurface. That pattern has followed Davis throughout his career as stability, for him, has rarely been accidental.
The Lakers, meanwhile, face a looming identity shift of their own. With LeBron James nearing the final chapter of his career and roster flexibility approaching, Los Angeles will soon reassess its defensive foundation.
That said, Washington will not move him easily, and forcing leverage would create tension. Still, in an NBA where stars eventually navigate toward preferred destinations, the door is still very much open.