TRADE: Davis, Hardy, DLO, Exum to WAS | Middleton, filler, 2 FRPs, 3 SRPs to DAL

[Smitty]

BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN.

[SkenfromLMF]

Shams -
Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum
for
Middleton; AJ Johnson; Malaki Branham; Marvin bagley; 2 firsts and 3 seconds

[Smitty]

   

Mavs save a tonnnnn of money. Out of the tax completely. Bunch of expirings.

[Chicagojk]

Well I did like Bagley second in the 2018 draft

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
The Wizards are acquiring a future Hall of Fame big man in Davis, one of the top 75 greatest players, to add to their core of Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly. Dallas receives long-term assets and opens significant flexibility to build around Cooper Flagg.

@ShamsCharania
An NBA trade deadline week stunner. Clearly, the Wizards have completed their deconstruction phase and are now moving toward Young and Davis leading a rising young core. Washington has turned its previous Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma trades into Young, Davis and five pick swaps.

@TheSteinLine
We had just written in the enclosed link that the Wizards were looking for a big man to put beside Alex Sarr. They have now used the expiring contracts of CJ McCollumn and Khris Middleton to acquire Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

@BannedMacMahon
The Mavs shed about $70M from their payroll next season and add a couple of future picks.

This trade for the Mavs is about prioritizing flexibility as they build around Cooper Flagg.

[Smitty]

Dallas is receiving a 2026 Thunder first-round pick and a 2030 protected Warriors first-round pick in this deal from the Wizards along with second rounders in 2026 (Phoenix), 2027 (Chicago) and 2029 (Houston), sources tell ESPN.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Not much of a return besides the picks, and clearing salary. They are in full rebuild mode now. I'm sure they aren't done.

[Reunion Mav]

Ok now! Now we have something to talk about. Good job old friend Michael Finley….i hope.

[Smitty]

@BobbyMarks42
The Mavericks now have the resources, starting with a likely lottery pick (and a late first) and financial/roster resources to build their roster around Cooper Flagg.

Dallas has $150M in guaranteed money next year, well below the tax and apron.

For this season, Dallas drops below the luxury tax and both aprons.

They have flexibility in the next 24 hours to continue building up their draft assets.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Bobby Marks had this nailed for weeks. He said the Mavs should move AD just for salary relief if they can get it.

I'm not even mad about the picks being bad ones.

[loki]

Credit to the interim front office for swallowing their pride and moving him.

[SkenfromLMF]

I would wager that Dallas is looking to move Klay if they are holding a roster spot for Middleton.

[KillerLeft]

I would wager that Dallas is looking to move Klay if they are holding a roster spot for Middleton.

I lost track of Middleton when he went to WAS. Has he completely fallen off a cliff? I'm not asking for any Dallas reason, but...could he be flipped? Or, is he maybe a buyout candidate, if they're just looking at him as an expiring salary anyway?

That could get you a roster spot for Nembhard or Cisse, yeah?

[cow]

That's closer to five second rounders and Martin is still on the team. I think I'd rather be in the AD business for another year, but I'm not the one paying the tax bill. Extrapolate what we turned Luka into and there aren't enough curse words for Nico. Hopefully there are more moves after this one.

[mvossman]

The picks are disappointing but the cap relief is insane. I think they could trade for a Mathurin or White and still spend the full MLE.

[Smitty]

@YossiGozlan
The Mavericks cap situation after trading Anthony Davis. They'll create a $20.8 million trade exception they could use to take on bad money with draft picks attached. They also get $230 million in savings between this and next season.

[omahen]

I lost track of Middleton when he went to WAS. Has he completely fallen off a cliff? I'm not asking for any Dallas reason, but...could he be flipped? Or, is he maybe a buyout candidate, if they're just looking at him as an expiring salary anyway?

That could get you a roster spot for Nembhard or Cisse, yeah?

I doubt anyone would even consider Middleton unless Mavs take really bad salary back (even than he would only be considered as a salary relief for the other team). I think he was one of prime buyout candidates (was in Washington and remains as such in Dallas).

[KillerLeft]

I doubt anyone would even consider Middleton unless Mavs take really bad salary back (even than he would only be considered as a salary relief for the other team). I think he was one of prime buyout candidates (was in Washington and remains as such in Dallas).

I predict he gets bought out, then. I think they're serious about getting Nembhard and Cisse on real contracts, and Middelton is the exact type of vet that playoff teams look to add on the cheap for the stretch run.

[Smitty]

@esidery
After being traded to the Mavericks, the strong expectation is Khris Middleton will soon hit the buyout market.

On a $33.3 million expiring contract, Middleton can work a buyout agreement to go join a title contender.

[omahen]

I predict he gets bought out, then. I think they're serious about getting Nembhard and Cisse on real contracts, and Middelton is the exact type of vet that playoff teams look to add on the cheap for the stretch run.

Kind of my hope he would be the one Lakers would add on the buyout market