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Anthony Davis Trade Immensely Raises Wizards’ Ceiling

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Jan 6, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) stands on the court before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards acquired two star players almost a month apart each at a low cost. The most recent, Anthony Davis, is undeniably great when healthy.

With the talent that Davis brings to the basketball court, he can take Washington to the next level and make the Wizards competitive again.

Anthony Davis’ Resume

Davis is an elite player who adds significant value to the team he plays for. Let’s take a look at all he has accomplished in his NBA career:

  • 2020 NBA Champion
  • 10× All-Star
  • 4× All-NBA First Team
  • 1x All-NBA Second Team
  • 3x All-Defensive First Team
  • 2x All-Defensive Second Team
  • 2x Blocks Leader
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team

When he suits up, Davis will be the most decorated big man to play for Washington since Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes.

Davis’ Defense

Adding an All-Defensive talent like Anthony Davis is always a big plus. Davis can elevate any defense he steps into; he should have at least one Defensive Player of the Year in his NBA trophy case.

He did win the SEC and National Association of Basketball Coaches Defensive Player of the Year awards in his freshman year at the University of Kentucky. Adding him to the roster with Alex Sarr, who is second in the league in blocks per game is going to improve the Wizards’ defense by leaps and bounds.

The Wizards are currently 29th in defensive rating. With the defensive depth of Davis, Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bilal Coulibaly, this team can become a top-tier defense.

Also, AD has been known to prefer playing power forward, which is perfect because playing alongside Sarr, who has been playing center. 

AD on why he prefers playing the 4: "My thing was never about the 4 or the 5, it was just about playing the 5 an entire game for the entire season because [the 5] is more wear and tear on your body…[I can/will] play the 5 at times, but if we're talking an entire season, I prefer the 4."
byu/taygads innba

AD’s Offense

As good as Davis is on defense, he is just as good on offense, making him one of, if not the best two-way players in the game.

In the 29 games that he played with Dallas, he averaged 20.2 points on 49% shooting. His ability to play on the block, score off the dribble, hit the midrange, catch lobs, and get to the line are all things that the Wizards could really use.

In his last season with the Lakers, Davis averaged just under 26 points per game. Now add in his scoring ability with Trae Young’s passing ability, that’s a huge improvement.

Give Anthony Davis the rest of this season and the offseason to get healthy and get his body right, and hopefully he can return to the court in the fall of 2026 refreshed, focused and determined to help the Wizards etch their first over-.500 season since 2018.

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Written by
Jarrett Spence

Jarrett Spence is a freelance sports journalist specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, with experience writing for platforms like FanSided and The Stop and Pop. Based in Washington, D.C., he covers the Washington Wizards and Mystics, delivering engaging stories, game analysis, and exclusive player insights. With a passion for storytelling and a strong social media presence.

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