Anthony Davis’s journey with the Mavericks ended in such a disappointing way.

The trade deadline deal was not too surprising, as the Mavericks eventually parted ways with Davis at a very cheap price.

Specifically, the Mavericks traded Davis, Hardy, Russell, and Exum, while the Wizards sent Middleton, AJ Johnson, Brannum, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks.

Though many players were involved, the key assets were really just Davis and the draft picks; the others were mainly salary fillers. The Mavericks probably saw some potential in AJ Johnson, Middleton was on an expiring contract, and the rest were insignificant.

Before the trade, the Mavericks were $17 million over the luxury tax threshold and faced a $32.5 million penalty; after the trade, they reduced their total team salary to $7.47 million below the luxury tax line, successfully avoiding the tax. This allows them to tank comfortably in the second half of the season, and Irving doesn’t need to rush back this year.

Trading Davis and avoiding the luxury tax is understandable, but the main issue is that the Mavericks sold Davis for far too little. Among the assets received, the most valuable are the two first-round picks, but these are the Thunder’s 2026 pick and the Warriors’ 2030 pick.

The Thunder’s first-round pick this year will likely be number 30, which isn’t even as valuable as the 31st pick since second-round contracts are much more cost-effective for NBA teams. The Warriors’ pick four years later is protected at 20, so it might convert into a second-rounder if luck isn’t on their side.

These two first-round picks are basically the lowest-value types, and the three second-rounders are negligible. Middleton will be treated as an expiring contract, unlikely to be re-signed after this season, and AJ Johnson has already changed teams twice without making an impact.

An interesting bonus in this trade is Bagley arriving in Dallas. The 2018 second overall pick has always been compared to Doncic since entering the NBA, but now, years later, Doncic has left the Mavericks while Bagley has come to Dallas. Still, Bagley probably won’t get much playing time here.

Looking at this trade alongside the Doncic deal, it’s clear the Mavericks really lost out badly selling Doncic. He ended up turning into Kristaps Porzingis (a consolation prize), Middleton, AJ Johnson, Brannum, Bagley, three first-round picks, and three second-round picks. The Lakers’ first-round pick is also of low value since they should still be competitive in 2027.

With Davis gone, Nico’s post-Doncic trade claim that “defense wins championships” has become a complete joke. I even suspect that trading Doncic was a personal vendetta by the owner, with Nico just acting as the executioner, only to be discarded soon after.

Davis’s time with the Mavericks was truly unfortunate, playing only 29 games over two seasons. He arrived already injured, starting with an abdominal injury in March 2025, followed by a groin strain, then an eye injury in April 2025 that nearly affected his vision.

This season, Davis suffered a thigh contusion, groin strain, Achilles inflammation, leg muscle tightness, and most recently, a hand ligament injury at the start of the year. This extensive injury history has steadily lowered his trade value, and combined with offseason contract and tax concerns, the Mavericks’ management simply sold him cheaply to the Wizards.

Whenever Davis was on the court for the Mavericks, he still averaged 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 49.2% from the field and 71.3% from the free-throw line. Unfortunately, his playing time was too limited, and with Irving absent, the three top picks on the roster never even played a game together before the team fell apart.

The Mavericks’ future now rests on Irving and Flagler, with the veterans guiding the young star toward superstardom. Fortunately, trading Doncic indirectly helped the Mavericks acquire Flagler; otherwise, their outlook would be bleak, and Nico would be entirely to blame.

Interestingly, the Hawks were Davis’s biggest pursuers this season but never offered a high price. Now, Trae Young and Davis have reunited on the Wizards, forming a promising duo—if they can stay healthy.

Similar to acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Jazz, the Wizards clearly plan to compete next season. Their lineup of Trae Young, Davis, George, Sarr, Trey Johnson, and Koulibaly combines experience and potential, making for an exciting prospect.

Trae Young and Davis effectively ended their seasons early and won’t play again this year. If the Wizards can secure a top-three draft pick, whether it’s Peterson, Diabate, or Buzer, their future looks bright.

Who would have thought that after leaving the Lakers, Davis’s journey would so quickly turn into a wandering path? A person’s fate can change in an instant.