With the blockbuster trade official, general manager Will Dawkins and head coach Brian Keefe comment on the trade acquisition of star forward/center Anthony Davis.
The blockbuster trade that proved to be the headline of NBA trade deadline week was officially announced by the organization midway through the eventual road upset against the top-seed Detroit Pistons, adding reason to celebrate for the fanbase to celebrate.
Washington has officially added a second All-Star to the roster with the addition of ten-time All-Star and forward/center Anthony Davis now in the nation's capital alongside guard Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, though Exum joins the organization sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
“Anthony Davis is one of the most accomplished players of his generation, and we are thrilled to have him in Washington,” said General Manager Will Dawkins via release. “Anthony’s championship experience and defensive pedigree bring a new level of opportunity and excitement to this franchise.”
With the trade official midway through the game, head coach Brian Keefe was able to comment on the addition following the win and opened by noting he and the front office are "thrilled."
"Obviously this is a Hall of Fame player, top-75 all time," Keefe said. "To add him to our roster, that's obviously exciting. We're looking forward to integrating him and think it's a really great step for our organization and we're all excited about it."
Davis will also arrive wearing number 23, becoming the first player in the franchise to wear the number since Michael Jordan in the early 2000s, but more importantly, he adds a winning veteran experience to a young roster still looking to learn how to consistently win in the NBA. Pair Davis with Young and it's easy to see why Keefe said the move "just enhances our team."
"I think that's the word we used with Trae [Young]," Keefe added. "I think he does the same thing. It enhances our - our roster is still going to be young, but I think it just enhances the strengths of our guys. [We] are going to put them in better positions to be successful. I think that's the most exciting part for all of us."
It did not take long for questions to materialize surrounding just how much both Davis and Young are expected to play following the All Star break with the front office expected to take a patient approach, just like they have done with Young. While Thursday's loss complicates those efforts with Washington now entrenched for the fifth-best odds at the top overall selection and three games behind the Sacramento Kings, the focus is expected to remain on retaining the top-eight protected selection with hopes of adding another young star around Young, Davis and the rest of the maturing core.
Less than one month after it was declared the Wizards had "completed the deconstruction phase" of the rebuild, Wednesday marked the next phase for the franchise with tangible optimism to now point to for the fanbase.
Washington will return to action this weekend for a back-to-back, first with a road trip to Brooklyn for a 3 PM tipoff on Saturday before hosting Miami on Sunday for a 2 PM tipoff.