1:12 pm: There’s some optimism about Davis’ ability to return to the court before the end of March even if he undergoes surgery on his injured hand, tweets Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
The idea that surgery would be season-ending may be the aspect of ESPN’s reporting that Davis took exception to. Shortly after Charania published his report, Davis posted a tweet stating, “Y’all better stop listening to all these lies on these apps!”
It wasn’t clear based on that post if Davis was disputing that he’ll undergo surgery, his potential recovery timeline, or the fact that the Mavs are having renewed trade talks about him.
For what it’s worth, the wording in Charania’s full story at ESPN.com suggests that surgery would end Davis’ season only if he remains in Dallas, since the Mavs would have little incentive to bring him back down the stretch if they’re lottery-bound.
12:10 pm: Mavericks big man Anthony Davis will likely undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). According to Charania, a surgical procedure would sideline Davis for “several” months and could essentially end his season.
However, Charania reports in a follow-up tweet that the injury hasn’t resulted in Davis being removed from the trade block. In fact, sources tell ESPN that the Mavericks have reopened trade discussions with multiple teams who hold interest in the 10-time All-Star.
As Charania explains, a team that makes a trade for Davis could aim to get him back in action for or during the playoffs while also making him part of its plans for 2026/27 and beyond.
Davis sustained the hand injury late in the fourth quarter during last Thursday’s loss at Utah. His hand appeared to bend back at an odd angle while defending Utah star Lauri Markkanen on a drive (YouTube link). Reporting on Friday indicated that Davis had sustained ligament damage in the hand and that he was seeking multiple medical opinions as he weighed surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
While Davis was facing an extended absence either way, the expectation was that taking the surgical route would result in a longer-term layoff.
Despite a career résumé that includes four first-team (and one second-team) All-NBA nods, a championship, and a spot on the league’s 75th anniversary team, Davis’ trade value had declined this season due to his ever-growing injury history, his age (33 in March), his maximum-salary contract (which pays him $54.1MM this season), and his reported desire for an offseason contract extension. His current deal runs through at least next season, with a $62MM player option for 2027/28.
If the Mavs trade Davis at this year’s trade deadline, his inability to suit up right away will further diminish his value on the market, so the front office would be selling low. Still, former general manager Nico Harrison, who made Davis the centerpiece of last year’s shocking Luka Doncic trade, is no longer employed by the Mavs, and the current decision-makers in Dallas – led by interim co-GMs Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi – are presumably less attached to the star forward/center.
Atlanta and Toronto have been the teams most frequently linked to Davis since the regular season began, with the Hawks considered a more viable trade partner for Dallas since creating future cap flexibility by trading Trae Young to Washington. If the Hawks do make an offer for Davis, they wouldn’t be able to include either CJ McCollum or Corey Kispert as salary-matching pieces, since those two players can’t be “re-aggregated” in a trade prior to the February 5 deadline.
I saw the video of him injuring that hand, and it seems like the offensive player barely brushed him with his hip. The fact that AD now wears protective glasses is all too funny to me.. don’t get me wrong injuries suck but it’s just hilarious. what a beta he is at his size. I don’t understand how being so soft doesn’t stop players like him and KAT from shouting in people‘s faces after every good play they make. Basketball is the epitome of what goes around comes around – stay humble pussycats!
You’re a moron.
who hurt you?
AD needed surgery for his eye… This is not a question of hard or soft. But nice narrative you’re trying your hands at.
Lakers should take back AD
Trade anyone Mavs want except Big 3
As long as AD is healthy in playoffs
Not a bad idea for this season, but I don’t think new ownership wants to be strapped down by that contract for ‘27 and possibly ‘28. If AD had been mostly healthy this season, I’d be willing to take the risk if I was Laker ownership – him, Luka, and Austin would be a much better Big 3 than what they’ve got right now. But even then, I doubt Mavs are even remotely interested in young rotation pieces/picks (any??) Lakers have to offer. They don’t call him Pestinka for nothing. If it wasn’t for Jeanie finally selling, we all know Pestinka woulda extended Brawny Senioroid AGAIN this past summer. Gutless, Rob.
To get Davis they would have to trade LeBron and his NTC
Who would want to risk and send out salary matching players just to have 41 year old LeBron on a roster for potentially half a season?
New York doesnt want to trade Anunoby or lose their big man in KAT, Warriors might not want to trade jimmy butler and LeBron has questionable interest there, Cleveland would have to trade Garland
Davis’ injury has lots of ramifications for the trade season. He figured in several multi-team trade scenarios.
Shams says there remain interested teams, but GSW and ATL aren’t likely to be among them…
Davis to Clips
Collins, Bogdanovic, Beal to Mavs
Lopez, Jones to Nets, Jazz
Salaries work, maybe just 1 unprotected swap, with AD having chance to get back to LA
Clips promote Sanders, Jordan. Need to add two more players. And with this moves they duck under luxury
I bet that Clips will get either Davis or Irving, it fits their styly.
So the clippers trade their entire bench and depth starters so they can have 2 glass superstars
Might as well trade Harden back to Philly for Embiid and see how many games they all miss
Davis and Flagg for Luka :)))))
Can’t make this stuff up!