After months of begging the Atlanta Hawks not to pair Trae Young with Anthony Davis, the two All-Stars have indeed united – but as Washington Wizards.
The Hawks were rumored to be interested in Davis all season, with reports indicating there were mixed opinions on the trade in Atlanta. Once they traded Young, however, reports went dark. There was just no reason to add Davis to a team that is still years removed from championship contention.
Ultimately, Davis was traded on Wednesday afternoon to the Washington Wizards for a host of rotation players, two first round picks, and three second rounders. Dallas is ready to rebuild around Cooper Flagg, and Washington is ostensibly all-in on their star core of Young, Davis, and Alex Sarr.
Hawks fans – and frankly, most NBA fans – know is that this experiment is doomed to fail. Or, at least be limited to mediocre results.
Young and Davis would be a dream core… if it were 2020
Young, while flawed, is still a remarkable player. He is a top-three passer in the league, has the ball-handling chops to dominate possession as a point guard, and can score (albeit inefficiently).
You can build a successful team around Young. Maybe he can’t be your best player, but he can be the offensive engine on a team with plenty of defensive support around him. His $49 million salary next year is certainly an overpay, but the Wizards had the cap space to integrate him into the team with minimal consequences.
Davis is the problem. He’s in the first season of a three-year, $175 million deal, yet has not backed up this contract. Davis has missed over 25 games in all but one season this decade, and he hasn’t hit his threes at above a 30% rate over this span either. While he is still a world-class defender, the Wizards already have one on their lineup in Alex Sarr.
Davis and Young are made for each other, but Davis isn’t the player he once was. If we could turn back the clock to a time when Davis’s health was reliable, I can’t imagine a filthier pick-and-roll duo. But it’s 2026 – Young has declined for four consecutive seasons, and Davis for much longer. Plus, what is the point of Anthony Davis when Alex Sarr is already a better defender? The two together will be a clunky fit that could stunt their superstar's development.
Washington has made a series of shrewd moves up to this point, essentially turning Bradley Beal into their entire young core and many first round picks. This, however, was a mistake. Davis isn’t a good fit, and his overpaid contract will limit the team's ability to add players who will be part of the next great Wizards team.