Davis, 32, only joined the Mavericks last February in a trade deal involving Luka Doncic moving the other way to join the Los Angeles Lakers.

Dallas are struggling in 12th place in the Western Conference, with 19 wins and 31 defeats this season, prior to Thursday’s trade deadline, while the Wizards (13-36) are 14th in the Eastern Conference.

Davis, who won the NBA title with the Lakers in 2020, has not played since 8 January because of a hand injury.

From the 20 games he has figured in, he has averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Middleton, 34, is the highest-profile player moving to Dallas. He won the NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 and has averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists from his 34 appearances this season.

Harden is an 11-time All-Star but is yet to win an NBA title. He will form a backcourt with Donovan Mitchell as the Cavaliers, who are fourth in the Eastern Conference, target a deep play-off run and possibly their second ever NBA championship after LeBron James led them to glory in 2016.

In other notable trades, the Golden State Warriors acquired centre Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield.

The Warriors, who won four NBA titles between 2015 and 2022 and sit eighth in the Western Conference this season, are hoping for another championship run while star point guard Stephen Curry is still playing at an elite level.

However, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying put with the Bucks, despite speculation he might be traded before the deadline.

The Bucks are struggling in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and seemingly out of the play-off race, while Greece’s Antetokounmpo is also currently out with a calf injury.

It looks more likely the Bucks will look to trade the 31-year-old at the end of the season.