'Generational fumble': Aussie caught in eight-player NBA trade that sends superstar to Wizards

Australian Dante Exum has been caught up in the blockbuster trade that will send 10-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis from Dallas to the Washington Wizards in an eight-player trade, ESPN reports.

Exum was ruled out for the season after "complications" from surgery on his right knee during the off-season.

The Mavericks re-signed Exum to a one-year, $3.3 million deal but he was never cleared to practice, making him trade bait for Dallas as they look to rebuild with moving Davis on.

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The Mavericks will receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham and Marvin Bagley III plus two first-round draft picks and three second-round selections, per the report.

The Wizards are also acquiring Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Exum.

It's another significant moment in Exum's career that has been dogged by numerous serious injuries.

The No.5 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft was forced to play in Europe for a period before helping the Boomers to a historic Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021, then being offered a chance with the Mavericks.

The Australian fit in well under coach Jason Kidd and was part of a Dallas team which made it all the way to the 2024 NBA finals.

Exum then had an injury-riddled 2024-25 season before going under the knife ahead of this season.

Davis, sidelined since early January with a hand injury, played in 20 of the Mavericks' 50 games this season. He is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.

Davis only made nine starts last season after arriving in the much-maligned trade that sent fellow All-NBA star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fan backlash from the deal ultimately contributed to the firing of general manager Nico Harrison in November.

And those same fans are now pointing to the compensation received for Davis, lamenting the team's roster after giving away a generational player in Doncic.

Over his 29 games (all starts) with Dallas, the team was 16-13 and Davis averaged 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 blocks.

The Mavericks (19-31) sit 12th in the 15-team Western Conference.

The Wizards (13-36) are in a tie for 14th place in the 15-team Eastern Conference.

Davis is the second decorated veteran to join the perpetually rebuilding Wizards, who acquired four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks in January.

Young, 27, has been out with MCL and quad injuries and has yet to make his Washington debut.

Middleton is the second-most notable name in the blockbuster deal. A three-time All-Star and 2021 NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, the 34-year-old forward averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 boards and 3.3 assists in 34 games this season with the Wizards.

Two other veterans in the trade are scoring in double figures. Bagley, 26, averaged 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 38 games (eight starts) for Washington, while Russell put up 10.2 points and 4.0 assists in 26 games (three starts) for Dallas.

- with Reuters