Wizards Acquire Anthony Davis, Trae Young in Blockbuster Trades

Franchise's young core to develop alongside All-Star duo

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Washington Wizards have pulled off a pair of blockbuster trades, acquiring four-time All-NBA selection Anthony Davis from the Mavericks and Trae Young from the Hawks. The moves are aimed at accelerating the development of the Wizards' young nucleus, including Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson, by providing them with veteran All-Star support.

Why it matters

The Wizards have been in a rebuilding phase, but the additions of Davis and Young could fast-track their return to relevance in the Eastern Conference. If the young players and new stars can mesh, Washington could compete for a playoff spot as soon as next season.

The details

In the trade with the Mavericks, the Wizards received Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell, and Danté Exum, sending out Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Marvin Bagley III, Malaki Branham, and multiple draft picks. The Young trade saw Washington give up CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to acquire the Hawks' All-Star point guard. The Wizards did not part with any of their own future first-round picks in either deal.

  • The Wizards acquired Anthony Davis on February 4, 2026.
  • The Wizards acquired Trae Young in early January 2026.

The players

Anthony Davis

A four-time first-team All-NBA selection and 10-time All-Star who is recovering from a finger sprain.

Trae Young

An All-Star point guard known for his offensive prowess, though his defense has been a weakness.

Alex Sarr

One of the Wizards' most promising young players who has shown improvement during his brief tenure in Washington.

Kyshawn George

A young Wizards player who has also demonstrated positive development this season.

Tre Johnson

Another member of the Wizards' young core that the team hopes will benefit from the additions of Davis and Young.

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What they’re saying

“If Davis and Young remain relatively free from injury and fully embrace their roles, the so-called 'Wiz Kids' almost certainly will develop in a way fundamentally different from how they've developed so far.”

— Josh Robbins, Author (nytimes.com)

“Davis and Young ought to carry the load next season — and, if everything goes right, play central roles in helping Washington at least compete for an Eastern Conference Play-In spot.”

— Josh Robbins, Author (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Wizards will need to ensure Davis and Young can stay healthy and buy into their roles in order for the team's young core to develop alongside the new star duo. The team's performance in the upcoming draft lottery will also be crucial in determining the franchise's long-term outlook.

The takeaway

The Wizards have taken a major step towards accelerating their rebuild by acquiring two All-Star talents in Davis and Young. If the new additions and young players can mesh successfully, Washington could return to relevance in the Eastern Conference sooner than expected.