Former Wisconsin basketball star guard Johnny Davis was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday afternoon, just minutes before the NBA’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
Davis played two-plus seasons for the Wizards after the team selected him with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. He jumped to and from Washington’s G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, during each of his seasons with the organization. The former Badger star struggled to find a consistent role with the NBA club, averaging just 11.4 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists.
The La Crosse, Wisconsin, native played for the Badgers from 2020-22. He starred during the 2021-22 season, averaging 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals. Those tallies earned him First-Team All-Big Ten and All-American honors, plus helped Wisconsin to a Big Ten Conference regular season title.
Davis is part of a larger trade that sees the Grizzlies send Marcus Smart, Colby Jones, Alex Len and a 2025 first-round pick to the Wizards for Davis, Marvin Bagley III and several second-round picks.
The hope is that a change of scenery will prove to be what Davis needs to rediscover the peak form he displayed during his time at Wisconsin. Otherwise, he could soon be forced down to a lower level of the sport.
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