OPINION:
This was the announcment Thursday:
“The Washington Wizards announced today they have acquired forward/center Anthony Davis, and guards Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for forward Khris Middleton, forward/center Marvin Bagley III, guard AJ Johnson, a 2026 first-round pick (via OKC), a 2030 protected first-round pick (via GSW), and three second-round picks. Guard Malaki Branham was also traded to Charlotte as part of the deal.
“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. “Anthony’s championship experience and defensive pedigree bring a new level of opportunity and excitement to this franchise.”
The same day, Monumental Sports & Entertainment — owners of the Wizards — made this announcement:
“Monumental Sports & Entertainment today unveiled The Halo, an immersive new experience built to elevate every moment inside the arena. Slated to debut ahead of the 2027-28 season, The Halo is a multi-level hospitality space for nearly 4,500 venue guests, with a wide range of seating, clubs, and social experiences for season ticket holders, small groups, suite owners and select ticket tiers.
“Built to transition seamlessly between NHL and NBA games, concerts, and family entertainment, The Halo reimagines how fans experience live events. With multiple distinct culinary concepts, flexible seating and club options, concierge-led service and spaces designed to evolve over time, The Halo represents the next chapter in MSE’s vision for the future of live experiences and one that will be recognized and saluted industry-wide.
“’The Halo will completely change how fans think about the arena experience,’ said Jim Van Stone, President of Business Operations and Chief Commercial Officer of MSE. ‘We designed this space for how fans actually want to experience events today — whether that’s watching a Capitals game, a Wizards matchup, or a sold-out concert. This isn’t just about luxury; it’s about flexibility, comfort and choice. We’re creating something that has never existed before in an arena, and we’re doing it in a way that reflects the energy, culture and momentum of Washington, D.C.’”
You can’t sell “The Halo” with the promise of something worth watching in a couple of years. You can’t sell your new opulent seats while asking your “venue guests” to continue to digest losing with the hope that someday soon the “arena experience” won’t be like a funeral.
The Wizards brain trust — Dawkins and Michael Winger, Monumental Basketball president — have been trying to create life inside their laboratory over the last three years using test tubes to grow an NBA team with young players like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Will Riley and others, all of whom have had their moments to suggest they might actually rise from the muck this franchise has been stuck in for nearly 50 years.
But then owner Ted Leonsis gets $500 million from the city to fix up the funeral home and that gives birth to a new upscale section for fans who don’t even pay the ridiculous normal price for NBA games at Capital One Arena (Wizards are at the bottom in attendance). So the bosses had to go out and dig up some body parts to create an illusion of competition worthy of the exorbitant prices, and came back with Trae Young, acquired last month in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, and Davis.
That’s fine. No problem with that. It didn’t cost them much — some role players and some invisible players — two late first-round draft choices and three second-round picks.
It will be fun to watch Young and Davis on the court — when they are on the court. That may not be until next year.
Young supposedly will come back from his sprained knee after the All-Star break, though that return is suspect. So is the first appearance in a Wizards uniform for Davis, out for four weeks with left hand ligament damage and a groin strain, The Athletic reported Davis may not return at all this year.
Washington (14-38) can’t afford to risk winning too many games this year for fear of losing their first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
So the biggest contribution that Young and Davis can make to the team this year is posing for pictures for next season’s ticket sales campaign.
What a league.
They should be able to sell some tickets if Young and Davis can join the young talented building blocks next season — particularly if they land a transformational player in the draft.
Davis, when he is on the court, is one of the most impactful players around the rim, and combined with Alex Sarr, would present opponents a wall that may at times be impenetrable.
Young, an assist artist — he led the league last year — would be an excellent feeder offensively.
But that scenario is more illusion than reality. A temporary confection to sell to a disillusioned fan base.
Because there is now way the Wizards can be in the Trae Young or Anthony Davis business for longer than next year.
Young is a four-time All-Star who has averaged 25.2 points per game over eight seasons. He is also a poor shooter (41.5 percent this season, 41.1 percent last year, 43.2 career), one of the league’s worst defenders and the absolute worst turnover machine in the history of the NBA. Young has a $49 million player option next year. Then he can become a free agent. He is not the role model for your young players.
Davis is a 10-time All-Star and a five-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, averaging 24 points per game over his 14-year career. He is a future Hall of Famer. He is also a medical calamity.
According to the website fadeawayworld.net, Davis has dealt with foot issues 55 times, ankle injuries 24 times, Achilles problems 20 times, and back issues 20 times, plus strains, knee soreness, calf injuries, shoulder problems, plantar fasciitis, groin pulls, wrist sprains, finger injuries, concussions, rib pain and maybe some injuries that they haven’t come up with a name for yet.
The last time he played anything close to a full season was 2023-24, when he appeared in 76 games. Before that, you have to go back to 2017-18, when Davis played 75 games. He has missed 22 games this season. He has missed 341 games over his career. That’s more than four full seasons.
Davis will turn 33 next month. Next season, if there is a playoff appearance in the Wizards future, Davis would be 34. He is not going to get healthier. He has a player option for $62 million for 2027-28, then can become a free agent the following season, when he is 35 years old.
One of the features of “The Halo” is “Elevate the View” — “reimagined seating and club options, paired with open circulation, and two center-court/center-ice bars with sightlines directly into the bowl to let guests choose their perspective on the action.”
To sell that perspective, the Wizards needed to change it.
• Catch Thom Loverro on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.
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