Wizards can't help but laugh as Mavericks' Anthony Davis return keeps getting worse

The Washington Wizards’ acquisition of Anthony Davis took plenty of people by surprise and even drew backlash from many wondering if the team’s questionable decision would pay off. 

As for the Dallas Mavericks, though, who coughed up Davis just one season after offloading a generational talent, their recent move to loop Zaccarie Risacher into the return months later keeps making the ultimate return for AD look worse by the second.

Davis has yet to play for the Wizards, but with all signs pointing to a long-term commitment in the near future, mixed with the talented core headlined by Trae Young and AJ Dybantsa that AD will join, it seems like Will Dawkins' big bet is lining up to be the perfect gamble. 

Washington doesn’t exactly have a rich history with the Dallas Mavericks, at least not to the point that watching them botch a trade would bring immense satisfaction. 

However, the updated return the Wizards sent to Dallas in exchange for Davis already seemed like a lopsided offer after the first couple of weeks of the postseason, and it somehow just got worse for the Mavericks after their latest move. 

Mavericks use Anthony Davis TPE to land Zaccharie Risacher

Obviously, the Mavericks' decision to move on so quickly from Davis offered mixed emotions for many, especially considering he was the centerpiece of the haul that convinced former general manager Nico Harrison that it was worth moving on from franchise face Luka Doncic. 

The Mavs found some financial freedom to continue building around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving after offloading Davis’ lucrative contract, but the team also created a $20.8 million Traded Player Exception in the deal with the Wizards. 

The sizable TPE set the Mavericks up with a major tool to help them land an immediate impact player, but nobody thought it would be used to land a former No. 1 overall pick who continues to be labeled as a bust. 

To add even more context on Risacher, the French product was taken with the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and up to this point, the forward’s rough start to his career has made it apparent that the Wizards dodged a bullet when the Atlanta Hawks opted to draft him one pick ahead of Alex Sarr. 

Any other time, taking a swing on a former top pick, especially from two years ago, wouldn’t be deemed a bad move for a retooling organization.

Nonetheless, to use their TPE on a player being labeled as a bust, while also offloading Ryan Nembhard, who proved to be a hidden gem during his rookie season, makes the move even more questionable for the Mavs. 

Sure, incoming rookie Sergei de Larrea had an impressive Summer League, but moving on from a very reliable backup for a player who COULD be one of the biggest busts in recent memory feels questionable. 

Regardless, the Wizards get to continue building towards the future and a playoff run as soon as next season, around arguably the most intriguing young core in the league, and Davis. 

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