Mavericks trade Anthony Davis ahead of deadline; how it impacts Cooper Flagg
Updated: 3:30 PM EST Feb 4, 2026
The Dallas Mavericks are making a major move in an effort to rebuild around Maine native Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.The Mavericks are reportedly trading 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards as part of a deal involving eight players and five draft picks.ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported Dallas is sending Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Dante Exum and Jaden Hardy in exchange for Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, Malaki Branham, AJ Johnson, two first-round draft picks and three second-round draft picks.Charania said the first-round picks Washington included in the deal are the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 selection, the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected pick in 2030.Davis, 32, was the centerpiece of last year’s trade that sent former Mavericks star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.Since that trade, Davis played in just 29 games with Dallas due to various injuries. He has played in just 20 of the team’s first 50 games of the season, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals per contest. Davis has been sidelined since early January due to ligament damage in his left hand.Davis is owed $58.5 million next season and has a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season, according to ESPN.ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks said that with the trade, the Mavericks drop below the luxury tax and both salary aprons this season. Marks also said Dallas’ payroll for next season has dipped to about $150 million in guaranteed money, which is well below the luxury tax and first salary apron.The trade has given the Mavericks more financial flexibility ahead of Flagg’s second season.Flagg, 19, has averaged 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks in 46 games this season. He has shot 48.4% from the field, 29.4% from 3-point range and 80.2% from the free-throw line.In his last three games, Flagg has averaged 39.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 57.7% from the field and 46.2% from 3-point territory.At 19 years and 44 days old, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in three straight games.Flagg scored a career-high 49 on Jan. 29 against the Charlotte Hornets, a record point total for a teenager in an NBA game. Two days later, he finished with 34 points against the Houston Rockets. On Tuesday, Flagg scored a game-high 36 against the Boston Celtics, his favorite NBA team while growing up in Newport, Maine.He also finished with nine rebounds and six assists against the Celtics, becoming just the fourth teenager in NBA history to record multiple games of 35 or more points, five or more rebounds and five or more assists. The others are LeBron James, who did it four times, and Kevin Durant and Doncic, who each did it twice. On Dec. 15, 2025, Flagg recorded 42 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Utah Jazz.Flagg was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January, making him a perfect three-for-three with the award to start the season.
PORTLAND, Maine —
The Dallas Mavericks are making a major move in an effort to rebuild around Maine native Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
The Mavericks are reportedly trading 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards as part of a deal involving eight players and five draft picks.
ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported Dallas is sending Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Dante Exum and Jaden Hardy in exchange for Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, Malaki Branham, AJ Johnson, two first-round draft picks and three second-round draft picks.
Charania said the first-round picks Washington included in the deal are the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 selection, the Golden State Warriors’ top-20-protected pick in 2030.
Davis, 32, was the centerpiece of last year’s trade that sent former Mavericks star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since that trade, Davis played in just 29 games with Dallas due to various injuries. He has played in just 20 of the team’s first 50 games of the season, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals per contest. Davis has been sidelined since early January due to ligament damage in his left hand.
Davis is owed $58.5 million next season and has a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season, according to ESPN.
ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks said that with the trade, the Mavericks drop below the luxury tax and both salary aprons this season. Marks also said Dallas’ payroll for next season has dipped to about $150 million in guaranteed money, which is well below the luxury tax and first salary apron.
The trade has given the Mavericks more financial flexibility ahead of Flagg’s second season.
Flagg, 19, has averaged 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks in 46 games this season. He has shot 48.4% from the field, 29.4% from 3-point range and 80.2% from the free-throw line.
In his last three games, Flagg has averaged 39.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 57.7% from the field and 46.2% from 3-point territory.
At 19 years and 44 days old, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in three straight games.
Flagg scored a career-high 49 on Jan. 29 against the Charlotte Hornets, a record point total for a teenager in an NBA game. Two days later, he finished with 34 points against the Houston Rockets. On Tuesday, Flagg scored a game-high 36 against the Boston Celtics, his favorite NBA team while growing up in Newport, Maine.
He also finished with nine rebounds and six assists against the Celtics, becoming just the fourth teenager in NBA history to record multiple games of 35 or more points, five or more rebounds and five or more assists. The others are LeBron James, who did it four times, and Kevin Durant and Doncic, who each did it twice. On Dec. 15, 2025, Flagg recorded 42 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Utah Jazz.
Flagg was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January, making him a perfect three-for-three with the award to start the season.