At 1:46 PM on Tuesday, February 4th, the entire direction of the Wizards’ franchise changed.
Washington made the move to acquire future NBA Hall-of Famer Anthony Davis, a deal that came out of nowhere in the NBA world. There has been little to no connection between the Wizards and Davis in recent weeks, with Washington largely expected to make smaller moves at the deadline.
The trade changes the trajectory of Washington’s franchise, with the acquisition of a star like Davis likely signaling a desire to win now.
But can the Wizards truly make noise in the eastern conference, with the acquisition of Davis?. The Wizards have serious needs across their entire roster, and the package given up could prevent them from fixing these flaws.
Washington has made a move which they could very well come to regret, one that has a chance of living in NBA trade infamy for years to come.
Wizards gave up too much
In order to acquire Davis, the Wizards gave up a package of Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks, and 2 seconds. They also acquired Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, 2 first round picks, and 3 seconds.
At face value, this seems like not a lot to give up, especially given that Washington gets to keep young stars like Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, and Kyshawn George.
However, the Wizards’ first round picks have the potential to be incredibly valuable in the future, especially given where they stand as a team.
Assuming he’s healthy, Davis should be a large boost defensively, giving the team much-needed rim protection and allowing Alex Sarr to be more versatile. But on offense, Davis hasn’t been the same player in recent years.
Davis’s efficiency as a shooter has slowly declined, coinciding with a lack of desire to attack the rim with the same physicality as earlier in his career. Injuries have made him a different player, one less valuable than earlier in his career.
That’s without mentioning the move’s dependence on the other Wizards players to develop, and contribute. We have yet to see Trae Young on the floor for Washington, despite being traded over a month ago. And young players like Tre Johnson, Alexandre Sarr, and Kyshawn George have shown flashes, but have room to grow.
If the Wizards don’t improve dramatically with Davis, giving up picks of such value will look like a big mistake. Washington will need great play not just from Davis, but from their entire core in order to make the most of the deal.
A.J Johnson's loss could hurt
Washington offering A.J Johnson, who has shown promise in recent games as a young guard, could become a big mistake.
Johnson is a former first-round-pick, only 21 years old, and has played well in recent weeks. His outburst against Sacramento last week stood out, showcasing his quickness and ability to finish around the basket.
Dallas gets a talented player, one that could be a cornerstone alongside Cooper Flagg.
Davis's injury history might plague Washington
Perhaps the biggest factor in whether or not this trade will work out, will be Davis’s ability to stay on the floor. The star has played just 20 games this year, after playing in just 51 the year prior.
At age 32, it’s fair to question how much the star truly has left. While his most recent injury is related to his hand, a series of lower body injuries have plagued his career, likely affecting his future athleticism.
Davis’s ability to stay on the floor could define this era for the Wizards, just as it did for his previous stops in L.A and Dallas. The talent is certainly there, but a lack of availability could haunt Washington in the future.
The Wizards will continue the regular season with more questions than answers, headed in a new direction as a franchise.