Trade Grades for Anthony Davis, Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, and far more
Trade grades for the Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, and seemingly half the league
Note: I didn’t want to keep spamming you all after every trade, so this one includes every trade I’ve seen that I hadn’t already covered. If you’re interested in Anthony Davis, Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Collin Sexton, Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley, Anfernee Simons, Jared McCain, and more, this is the right article for you.
My other grades:
De’Andre Hunter/Keon Ellis/Dennis Schroder and Vit Krejci/Duop Reath
Let’s start with the big one.
WIZARDS/MAVERICKS
While an Anthony Davis trade was always a possibility, a recent hand injury seemingly made a move for him untenable.
Instead, the Wizards shocked us by moving a few bad picks and a bunch of non-core guys for an out-of-shape, oft-injured, still oft-dominant 32-year-old. They join Utah in preparing to leave tanking behind in just a few months.
The trade:
Dallas Mavericks receive: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two firsts (2026 Thunder, top-20-protected 2030 from Warriors), three seconds
Washington Wizards receive: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum
Even diminished, Davis is still an impactful player when available. This year, advanced metrics like EPM still have him as a borderline All-Defensive candidate (he won’t qualify). He’s allowing about the same percentage at the rim as Rudy Gobert and Jaren Jackson Jr., for example.
He’s struggled offensively, looking a little sluggish, but optimists like the Wizards’ front office would point towards Dallas’ lack of spacing and reliable point guard play (no offense to the resplendent Cooper Flagg) as environmental reasons holding him back.
The defense, size, and touch around the rim should make his aging curve relatively graceful, and I’d imagine he’ll be a strong All-Star candidate next year and likely the year after, if his health holds (the most dangerous words in basketball).
I’ve been high on the Wizards’ core for a while now, but the team clearly lacked that one tentpole star. Now, they have a core of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who should be a very strong pick-and-roll pairing, surrounded by a bevy of young, three-point-friendly talent like my beloved Kyshawn George, historic rookie sharpshooter Tre Johnson, and rising star Alex Sarr. And don’t forget about a top slot in a 2026 draft with at least five really, really strong prospects! People will make jokes (I’ve deleted at least three), but that’s a genuinely intriguing lineup. Seriously! Stop laughing!
Davis and Sarr will be a frightening rim-protecting combo, and Davis in the middle will let Sarr be at his best as a Jaren Jackson Jr.-style roving free safety. Both Johnson and Young struggle defensively, but these two (plus capable wing defenders like George and Bilal Coulibaly) should patch up a lot of holes.
In theory, the Wizards will be good next year, and by the time Davis ages out of stardom, Sarr or [*insert high 2026 draft pick*] will be ready to assume the heavy mantle. George fits any kind of team or timeline. Johnson’s shooting is already the real deal, and if Young can bounce back to his best form as a Best Supporting Actor candidate… the Wizards have a real path forward for both the present and the future.
A lot hinges upon Davis’ health, however, and that’s never a good spot to find yourself in. Even though the picks Washington sent out weren’t valuable ones, first-round picks always play in trades, and they’ve fired a few bullets they won’t be able to get back.
But they didn’t bet the whole farm, merely a barn or two. Even if Davis is a total disappointment, it won’t completely submarine the rebuild, given the cheap price, and there is some real short-term upside here for a team that’s decided it’s ready to move up in the world.
I’ll be honest: I had some sticker shock at the start of this write-up, but working through it on paper has changed my mind. I won’t ever love taking even a smallish gamble on Davis, but I don’t hate it for Washington.
One caveat: Like Young, Davis is looking for a big extension. I don’t particularly care about the dollar amount, but I pray the deal isn’t too long. Do not handcuff your future for the chance at being, like, a five-seed next season.
Jaden Hardy is a score-first combo guard who might be worth a flier but is unlikely to make an impact. D’Angelo Russell is a bit of a weird fit who won’t figure into future plans. Dante Exum hasn’t played this season after undergoing early knee surgery.
Final note: I’d be surprised if we saw Davis suit up for the Wizards much, if at all, this season.
Washington Wizards grade: Dare I give it a B? B.
For the Mavericks, the picks are a sleight of hand.