3:25 pm: Cuban is contradicting what MacMahon’s sources said about Davis, telling Joe Vardon of The Athletic that the Mavericks won’t try to trade the 10-time All-Star this season.
“We won’t,” Cuban wrote in an email when asked if he and Dumont would look to move Davis. “We want to try to win.”
While Cuban is part of the Mavericks’ brain trust, he’s essentially serving as an advisor and doesn’t have the final say on basketball matters, so he won’t be the one ultimately making the decision on Davis. It’s also possible his position will change prior to February 5 if the 4-11 Mavs don’t begin turning things around in the coming weeks.
7:54 am: The Mavericks will explore the trade market for big man Anthony Davis prior to this season’s deadline, multiple team sources tell Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
There has been rampant speculation since the Mavericks parted ways with head of basketball operations Nico Harrison last week that Davis will end up on the trade block. MacMahon’s report is confirmation that the team will at least consider dealing the 32-year-old during the 2025/26 season.
As MacMahon explains, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont and his new team of decision-makers – including co-interim general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, head coach Jason Kidd, and minority owner Mark Cuban – are “plotting to pivot” to a future built around this year’s No. 1 overall pick, 18-year-old Cooper Flagg. While Flagg represents the franchise’s long-term future, it remains unclear how significant a roster overhaul the club is mulling.
Davis has an impressive NBA résumé that includes 10 All-Star appearances, five All-NBA berths, five All-Defensive nods, a championship, and a spot on the league’s 75th anniversary team.
However, he also has an extensive injury history, which has reared its head in a major way since he was traded from Los Angeles to Dallas as part of last season’s shocking Luka Doncic blockbuster. Davis has appeared in just 14 of 48 possible regular season games for the Mavs since that deal and is currently sidelined due to a left calf strain.
Davis had hoped to return by now, but has been held out of action by the club’s medical staff. Dumont has reportedly been involved in that decision-making process, having pushed for a cautious approach in order to reduce the risk of the star forward/center aggravating the injury or making it worse. The team announced on Sunday that Davis will be reevaluated in seven-to-10 days.
Besides his injury history, Davis also represents a major risk for any team acquiring him due to his age (33 in March) and contract situation. He’s earning $54.1MM this season and $58.5MM in 2026/27, with a $62.8MM player option for ’27/28. He’ll also be extension-eligible next summer.
Although Davis is still expected to generate interest on the trade market, it’s possible the return wouldn’t be what the Mavs are hoping for. The 14th-year veteran could boost his value if he’s able to get back on the court soon and play at an All-NBA level again leading up to the February 5 trade deadline, but if Dallas isn’t satisfied with what an in-season return for Davis looks like, the team could end up waiting until the offseason to more seriously explore a deal.
Anthony Davis is like an expensive luxury sports car that constantly breaks down and needs to be taken to a shop for repairs every 200 miles. Not sure who takes that deal until the offseason. I can possibly see the Spurs making that deal and trading Fox for AD. They’re super redundant at the guard position and a twin-towers look/backup for Wemby would definitely make the Spurs championship contenders.
Fox for Lebron might work too, if the Spurs want to go that route.
Spurs is a pretty smart organization. I doubt they go the route of trading their All-Star PG for a 41 year old contemplating retirement.
“All-Star PG” debatable. Fox is massively overrated and the youngsters they have are all as good as he is right now. Bron at 41 actually is an improvement over Harrison Barnes. Plus there’s the all-important part of how much attention/money/fans Bron would bring in. Wemby+Bron would be a nice duo, better than Luka/Lebron. I see the path there, sorry you don’t.
The correct analogy is Anthony Davis is the powerboat that you always admired and finally got the money together to acquire, but then spend the rest of your life complaining about how it sits in the harbor all the time because it’s always breaking down and needs parts that you can’t find or aren’t available anymore or just don’t fix things completely. You can never get rid of that boat. Never. Not unless you just release it to the scrapyard. And definitely no one is gonna give you decent draft picks for it.
Sorry, your analogy is incorrect.
You did have some great memories to go along with it though (Lakers ring, dominate PF at times)
That’s an awful deal for the Spurs wtf
They’d have to give up a lot of firsts to get Fox with just AD as the talent offered.
Its like Archer when he gets the Ferrari and then its always getting carted around on a tow truck
Great analogy ct2016
What a disaster
Nico Harrison, the man previously known for making Curry go with Under Armour instead of Nike, somehow found a way to top his prior-best idiocy.
It’s wild how some of these big time jobs are given to unintelligent people. How many rings does Morey have again? Stop hiring people who don’t win.
His contract is almost literally untradeable. Lebron for AD might be the only option.
AD, if healthy, is a better fit with Luka than LBJ is.
Truth, but AD also is made of glass.
What in the hell would the Mavs do with LeBron?
Nothing. And the lakers don’t want AD. I’m just saying, AD would be a better fit with Luka, but obviously LeBron isn’t going anywhere he doesn’t want to go.
All this does is remove any motivation AD might have had to get in game shape. If the Mavs are going to trade him less than a season after getting him because “defense wins championships”, why would he try to help them by playing hard the rest of this season?
At this point the Mavs have no shot at the playoffs. Kyrie is not playing this year.
So, the worst thing the Mavs can do is be a middling team. They own next year’s draft pick (the only one they control for the following several years), so they don’t want AD to try to win them any games.
Bull kyrue will be back first of the year
No he is not. He got his surgery at the end of March, and ACL for older players Ruth leg injury history like Kyrie take at least 12 months. He wont even be himself next year either.
If the Mavs FO don’t want Davis rushing back to the court, then that de-motivation might be the outcome they’re looking for.
But why just sit him out or de-motivate him if they can trade him and get something back for him?
If he’s healthy then they’ll get a lot back for him, way more than people here think. I feel bad for AD, he’s freaking amazing and people here just trash him as just “that guy” Luka was traded for.
He’ll be motivated because he’s about to get himself to a contender in a better market that isn’t going to be mired in a rebuild.
Smart on the Mavs not to play him. Why risk the injury?
The problem is:
1. Only a contender would want him. Which contender, at this point in the season: a) have $54 million of players to trade, and not be hurt by it, that the Mavs would want back or they can get back enough players to at least have 14 players on the roster?
2. Which contender wants to pay AD max contract for the next 3 years, with AD’s injury history?
Honestly, Fox to Mavs for AD makes sense. Spurs have too many guards, the Mavs need a guard.l, but have too many PF’s and centers. Spurs have lots of first round picks too if they need to send one or 2 picks. Spurs can send out Fox and Olynik to match contracts. How would Wemby and AD play on offense together? They both want to play outside.
But a healthy AD on the Spurs can be dangerous the way the Spurs are already playing.
No, people trash him for his history of missing so many games.
Putting aside Davis’ injury history, a significant issue is that Davis wants to play PF but can’t reliably stretch the floor as a three point shooter or defend the perimeter. So he needs to be a C and Dallas already has Lively and Gafford. C Davis/Lively; PF PJ; SF Flagg would be an interesting core with the Mavs targeting a PG/SG in the draft. That would make Gafford the odd man out. Could the Mavs get a lottery protected 1st rounder in return for him? I think they will slow play Irving’s rehab this season so that he is good for 26-27. Mavs need to move off Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Dante Exum and Dwight Powell. C Moussa Cisse and PG Ryan Nembhard would be candidates for standard contracts.
I thought he wanted to be a PF on the defensive end not necessarily within an offensive scheme? Correct me if I’m wrong tho.
There-in is the problem though. Most players at Center are there because of their offensive skill (or lack thereof) as much as their defense. There are only 2-3 Brook Lopez types in the league and nobody is trading them.
Dwight Powell is the Udonis Haslem of the Dallas Mavericks. He’s been with them 12 years and is not going anywhere. He’ll retire there and become a front office guy.
AD best position is the 4. When he plays and I get that is an issue. He is the best 2Way 4 in the game. Mavs biggest issue now is no PG. The team they have is built for a lead PG (no Kyrie). Russell is not the answer. I would move Gafford for one. And let the season play out. You then can see if its worth it to play with Kyrie. Or move AD healthy by TD or for draft.
They will not get a great package for him. His trade value is very low. Most likely just some old all star.
Similar to OGs trade, Raptors could flip IQ and Barret for him, plus a future frp
The Raptors don’t need a starting front court player though.
Raps don’t want him.
Yeah were getting into other bad contracts territory.
Scott Perry on line 1
Mavs get
Zach Lavine
DeRozan
Monk
1 First
Kings get
AD
Klay
D-Lo
….
I can’t tell if you’re serious or not
Everybody who watches Basketball knows what the Bulls need. Unfortunately except the Bulls Management. But I can tell everyone stop trying to peddle the AD is from Chicago so he’ll want to go there. The one statement I can make for a fact is that the last thing a young Bulls team needs is AD.
Bad trade for Dallas. Add another 1st
Done
That’s rearranging the deck chairs on two Titanics lol
The Bulls would do Coby White, Patrick Williams, and a #1 pick.
No they won’t. The Bulls need a big who plays defense. AD has no interest in that. Or playing in general for that matter. At least Coby TRIES to play defense and Patrick Williams is looking better now that they’ve stopped trying to stick that square peg into the 4 hole they never were able to make him. He’s not worth his pay yet but his salary can be used in a match up deal way better than somebody else’s mistake. At least the Bulls have a whole team of USEFUL players now. It’s still a bad mix that won’t work long term but could be a start anyway. Davis is basically worthless.
AD has looked disinterested early in the season. But before this year, including 24-25, he was still very effective and among the best players in this league. If you can get that version of AD for cheap, it could work.
But he’ll be 33 before the playoffs start. He’s the biggest injury risk among top guys outside of Embiid. And he’s on a massive contract. I don’t know if I’d do that if I’m Chicago. You have a good thing going on with your squad, and the books look good.
When he’s actually on the court Anthony Davis is one of the best defensive players in the league.
That’s hilarious. Do you have an HBO special yet? Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk
Have you watched the NBA in the last 14 years? Even with his age and injury history he’s one of the most versatile defenders in the league. He can still block shots, help from the weak side, switch onto anybody, guard both sides of the pick-and-roll, switch onto guards and still recover to the big to break up the lob, guard the post and he guard pin-downs.
The caveat though is when he plays which he doesn’t do as much anymore.
“The Bulls need a big who plays defense. AD has no interest in that.”
This is the complete opposite of reality, lmao. Anthony Davis has six top ten DPOY finishes (including four top 5) and five NBA All-Defense team selections. Say whatever else you want about him but he prides himself on defense.
Vucevic, Okoro, Jevon Carter, Dalen Terry and multiple picks would work theoretically, though Boston, Indiana, Toronto, probably other teams i haven’t thought of yet can at least make comparable offers, and likely better
Did you get dropped on your head as a baby?
Boston wants nothing to do with that contract.
Boston didnt want AD in 2018 they certainly wont take him now.
I think it’s a good idea for the Bulls
Please Jerry/AKME do not fall for this parlor trick. Let someone else eat his contract (looking at Warriors) no offense guys.
AD – $54,126,450 (2025-26)
$58,456,566 (2026/27), $62,786,682M (player option 2027-28)
Draymond – $25,892,857M/$27,678,571M (player opt)
Kuminga – $22,500,000M/$24,300,000M (team option)
GP II – $ 3,303,774M – expiring
Melton – $3,080,921M – expiring
Brings Warriors cap down by $651K. Warriors top 7 guys (Curry, JB, AD, Hield, Moody, Horford, Pods) then they can play the buyout market (McGee or someone later in the season). They get bigger up front. I know AD injury issues will scare GSW fans in here, but objective was to to win another ring for Steph. AD’s skills were never the issue, it was his health. Defensively, they would still be a solid team with AD roaming the middle and Butler on the perimeter.
Mavericks – Too many 4’s (Green/PJ Washington, and Powell), but allows them from getting under AD deal. Likely would deal Powell for a backcourt player until Kyrie comes.
Thoughts?
A.D. is done. Finished. No team needing a player of his caliber is going to trade for him because he can’t stay on the floor.
I don’t believe he is done, I think he genuinely just doesn’t want to play in Dallas. He seems like he lost his heart in LA after the deal.
He lost his heart 2 minutes after his signature dried on his first contract.
I mean he won a title, will be a HOF and has money. The only thing setting him back in life is that ugly ass unibrow lmao.
He has been hurt before Dallas, he will be hurt after Dallas. Dude has been injury prone for a while now, and it would be foolish to think that reverses into his mid 30s.
I don’t think AD is done. I think he’s healthy and ready to go right now and the Mavs are holding him out because they don’t want to damage him. He is fragile after all. But if he is good to go AD is a fit on every single team in the league no matter what style they play. His game translates across the board because of the defense to offense transitions he creates. AD is freaking amazing. People forget… even though he was amazing just last year before the trade.
Jack, on paper you’re absolutely correct. Dominates both sides of the ball. One of the best shooting big men. He’s amazing.
But whatteam with championship aspirations going to give up $50 million in salary, whoever those guys may be, plus Dallas wants I’m sure a first round pick or so…, a contending team will give up all that?
I say the man is done, he’ll have to play out this contract in Dallas and then he’ll be mid 30s and finished.
“But whatteam with championship aspirations going to give up $50 million in salary, whoever those guys may be, plus Dallas wants I’m sure a first round pick or so…, a contending team will give up all that?”
A team that is under the first apron can take back more salary than it sends out.
Chicago are 18 million below the first apron, Detroit are 26 million, Spurs, Atlanta, and some others are 10-15 million under it. They can take on his 54 million and send out less, just making sure they’re under the apron. Detroit would only have to send out 28 million. That’s Tobias Harris (26m expiring) + a vet minimum. Very doable money-wise.
I see what you’re saying and I like your comment but Tobias Harris plus a scrub for Anthony Davis? How many first round picks Does Detroit have to include for that to happen?
Luke has corrected me. I forgot about the 125% rule. That is $43.1m for AD.
But anyway, making a trade like that is much easier for a team under the first apron.
A young player + expiring + fillers + 1 frp could do it. AD’s stock is not the highest right now.
Detroit can make it happen, Chicago too. Chicago’s books look good going forward.
Chicago could do Essengue (as a young player), Vuc/Collins, Huerter + 1 pick.
And I’m not suggesting that it would be a good idea for Chicago or Detroit, but they could make it happen without losing all that much.
And Dallas is a very expensive team. Shedding AD’s money would have a lot of value for them.
Pistons would have to send out $43,101,160 to take back Davis’ $54,126,450 salary.
Staying below the first apron is important, but as long as a team is over the cap, is still has to adhere to salary-matching rules (which in this case would be 125% of the outgoing salary + $250K).
Thanks, Luke. You’re right.
So this is just some in Celebrini we trust s***…
Mostly you dont see 4 or 5 for 1 trades in season because it strips out the depth. Also Steph/Dray still have the insane chemistry that makes this all work. I would think its Butler for AD straight up no sweetners, or no deal. And thats if Rick looks at the medicals and says I can make this work.
Dream bigger !
JK/Dray/ and Buddy Bahamas qualifies for Giannis and Cole Anthony
Send every single draft capital you have its possible if Giannis is wiling
Cap &, that is likely one of the packages GSW will put on the table for Giannis, plus 4-6 FRP, I agree.
Warriors will not trade Green
arc this is going to be a very interesting trade deadline this year.
Never say never.
Career highs in turnovers/game and fouls/g and career lows in rebounds/g, assists/g, steals/g and blocks/g…Draymond might be the problem. He is having a top 5 career year in PPG though. So there is that. But that seems like a tradeable asset…anyone except Steph can go if Giannis is incoming. @arc89 you are wrong there. The very long term future of the Warriors is at stake here. They need a second superstar to pair with Curry, who can take over and be the face of the franchise if Curry starts fading, or needs to be used less and less.
Giannis and GSW/Curry have long been a perfect match. If they let Klay go, they will let Draymond go too.
Worst trade in history keeps getting worse. Unless this draft is fixed too and Mavs get another #1 pick the franchise is done for years. Even if they get the #1 they’re multiple seasons away from ever being competitive.
Haha. Any chance LA wants AD back for Luca?
They wouldn’t trade Luka for AD Flagg and that pick next year. Both franchises would be mad and that would be a double loss trade. Luka should’ve cost that type of package minimum instead of the garbage Dallas got.
The irony is teams were calling about AD as the deal was happening ready to give real value for him. Ah how that value has changed in 4 short months of NBA season time.
“unless this draft is fixed too”
If you think last years is fixed, why don’t you think they’re all fixed? And if you think any part of the NBA is fixed, why do you watch it?
Ghost, do you believe the NFL fixes games?
I do think they’re all fixed, just some way more blatantly than others. Cleveland getting 3 1sts during LeBrons time in Miami at least 1 of those was a league gift so he’d come back. Drafts can be fixed but the game is still played and some picks are colossal busts. Bennett sure didn’t help Cleveland as one of their 3 out of 4 #1s.
Wemby to the spurs to get them 3 straight generational talent big men when their odds weren’t the best is another example.
Intelligent people that understand the beyond remote odds of so many mathematically minimum chance “coincidences” like AD traded to the lakers Pelicans getting consensus #1 pick Zion combined with Luka traded to the lakers getting consensus #1 pick Flagg (never mind the Cavs getting the #1 pick the year Ohio native Lebron was available “somehow”) and then the Cavs getting THREE #1 picks after he left – when they’re combined – know that the draft is clearly rigged.
But if you’re a basketball fan that wants to watch players at the highest level compete, there’s no alternative, so we watch.
AD is going to cost someone a lot top players and #1’s. Dallas gave up Luka Doncic to get him just last season. *sarcasm*
Any GM stupid enough send Doncic for such little return deserved be fired on the spot.
I do fell sorry for AD, you have had a great career, unfortunately you got traded for a hold forever player like Doncic. Dallas fans shouldn’t blame you or boo you, you were simply a piece of a horrible give away trade. No reflection on you, you’ve done a lot as a player.
Dallas should simply let AD pick his team and send him
on his way. You treated Doncic without respect and AD was set up as the fall guy by your former GM.
Dallas deserves better. Bring back Cuban! At least he ran it with the goal of winning and giving the fans a team to cheer for every night.
I dont think the trade makes him look bad. Like nobody but nico ever thought it was anything but a blowout. People didnt change how they think about AD because he was traded for a player everybody knew was more valuable at the time.
The only question is when he leaves DAL can he have a successful final act to his career where he can play 50+ games a year.
“Any GM stupid enough send Doncic for such little return deserved be fired on the spot.”
He should have been fired for even suggesting it. If you are an owner and your GM brings that trade to you for approval, you say “No” and then “You’re fired” in quick succession.
AD and Kyrie somewhere for something; two or three weeks after, Lebron joins.
They deserve to get back together again (would AD and Kyrie like to, though?).
I think people wants to see them together again. Maybe +30 year olds, like me.
Lebron shouldn’t be second guitar to no one.
They represent a great generation and are talents people wants to see playing together again.
With some defensive stoppers, they can compete for real.
Again, trying to win an NBA crown with injury-prone “oldsters” while –ha, ha! — paying them $40, $50 or more millions for past performance is nuts and works just once in awhile. I’m happy our Boston Celtics are following the Thunder’s lead. A few core stars backed up by hungry youngsters. Smart I’d say.
Hornets: Anthony Davis
Mavs: Bridges, Sexton, two future FRPs including their own 2027 pick.
The Luka trade ends up being Luka for Sexton, Bridges, Christie and 3 first round picks. Still not great but a good start to building around Flagg.
Davis to the Charlotte Hornets? Bet you my bottom dollar he wouldn’t report and thus the trade would not be completed after a conversation between his agent and Charlotte.
Would he go back to the Pelicans?
;-)
Chicago?
Clippers on line one!
Honestly, AD is a better fit for the Lakers than LBJ is at this point. I don’t think AD is done like so many of you. AD on the Bucks, Rockets, Nuggets, knicks, hell any of the contenders, would create some fascinating combinations… so long as the price is right. AD was phenomenal just last season before he was dumped on Dallas.
Jack if you have 50 million coming in you have to have 50 million going out. Who do you suggest some of these teams give up?
Street clothes is done and stuck in Dallas the next two years and then he’ll be really done.
So unfortunate that Street clothes and Day-to-Davis are such good nicknames lol
lol not for AD — they are nice … .
Hornets are not trading for AD. The Celtics are not either. Chicago on the cheap is the best for all concerned.
What $50 million in salary is going out and sent to Dallas?
Logistically a trade of this magnitude cannot happen.
You mean to tell me some GM OF A WINNING PROGRAM is going to bite on Anthony Davis ??
I’m wrong a lot more than I’m right here on this website but wow, I just don’t see it.
Cuban’s exit has become less and less graceful. You sold dude. Party’s over.
Exactly. Couldn’t have said it better. Thank you for being a quality poster.
What exit are you talking about? He just engineered the removal of Nico.
The Laker trade was rigged to get Luka on L.A. Davis was just a name. Now they have to dump him. The NBA is a joke.
It’s so rigged, it’s beeeeeeen rigged against Steph and the Warriors because he is so good and yes, even better than Lebron.
DURRRRRRRR
Lol @ Cuban. Try to win what?? The NBA cup?? A play-in game?? I hope he doesn’t mean a championship with this squad. There’s no Kyrie and Flagg isn’t even old enough to drink. Pack it up.
“Wait until next year”!
Clown show is up and running! Mavs “brain” trust: How’s about just zipping it for a bit?
You can’t just give away AD. Not after trading away Luka. Nico didn’t survive. Even if you move AD it has to be done right.
@Peter_Cantrope .. made a good point about AD being disinterested. We all know he’s a bit of a drama Queen. So the pressure of the trade. Then getting hurt. And the fans boiling is not working for him. He came in overweight to training camp. Team still needs a PG. it’s definitely starting to affect him imo.
Mavs have to be all in. AD is a player who needs a PG. Makes his job a lot easier. Gafford is a player teams would want. Mavs can even use Russell with him. To upgrade at PG. You roll the dice on this year. Make AD look good. Then you will have a better look to see if you wait on Kyrie. Or move on from AD.
Agree with Al 100% on this. All of it, but esp. Gafford for a PG.
What a mess the Mavs are. No players will want to play for them if they keep this up.
Trade Washington, Gafford, Caleb Martin and Max Christie for a veteran starter (30 years old and older) SF and C
Put Flagg (SF/PF) and Lively on the bench but play high minutes.
Next year draft real young so you can start building through Cooper and Lively’s young age
Maybe fire Jason Kidd
This team is close to a championship
Well… they can’t really trade him yet. Need to wait for all the other dudes to become trade eligible.
Grant, thybulle, Williams and picks for Davis. Holiday, Dame and Davis plus a bunch of young-bloods would be great fun. Blazers please I want to see this.
3 team trade
Dallas gets: Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant and Reath
Boston gets: Washington, Gafford and D Russell
Portland gets: Simons, Max Christie, D Exum, Baylor Scheiermann, Martin and picks
Portland waives Martin and Exum after