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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
Scott Perry on line 1
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.
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