The Hawks and Mavericks are in something of a holding pattern when it comes to a potential Anthony Davis trade, Marc Stein reports for The Stein Line (subscriber link).
Given Atlanta’s tendency to avoid the luxury tax, Stein writes that it’s unlikely that the team will add Davis’ contract, which will pay him $58.5MM next season and $62.8MM in the 2027/28 season, without moving Trae Young, who has a $48.9MM player option for next season.
Stein adds that, despite previous reports that the Hawks would be willing to move former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in the right deal, his sources indicate that an in-season trade for Davis would not likely be considered one such deal.
Rich Paul, who represents Davis, is also a player in these conversations. Stein notes that Paul has a strong, plugged-in relationship with many of the top decision-makers in the Mavericks organization and that there are indications that he views Atlanta as a good landing spot for his client, though such a deal could have to wait until the offseason.
We have more from Stein’s most recent newsletter:
- Regardless of what happens with Davis, it’s clear that the Mavs are taking a hard look at their roster. Stein writes that there’s a belief that everyone on the team outside of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving is considered potentially on the table. The Mavs are currently 13-23 on the season and have lost six of their last eight games.
- When Fred VanVleet tore his ACL during an unofficial Rockets preseason mini-camp, it was expected that he would miss the rest of the 2025/26 season. However, Stein reports that Houston isn’t ruling out a return for the 31-year-old point guard. VanVleet is apparently attacking his rehab process hard with the intention of giving himself the chance of returning to play before the season is over.
- The Lakers‘ desire to add a two-way wing such as Herbert Jones or Trey Murphy III is well-documented, but their pathway to adding that player is complicated for multiple reasons. The first is that the two Pelicans’ wings are considered unlikely to be moved before the trade deadline, and the second is that the Lakers are not expected to sacrifice financial flexibility in any deal that doesn’t bring in a player they consider a real needle-mover, Stein writes. With two-way wings being some of the most coveted players around the league, there’s a question of how likely it is that someone who fits the bill will suddenly become available.
You know who doesn’t have a complicated path to acquire Herbert Jones -and- Trey Murphy III??
The Dubs.
Who would you offer the Pelicans for Herb Jones?
Moody-Jones straight up, but these teams match up on a large deal, perhaps with more teams involved. Lots of chatter about the Dubs going after both Jones and Murphy, so for salary matching additionally I’d target Matkovic, Bey or Missi for Kuminga, Green (to be flipped or traded in a multi-team deal somewhere else) and Buddy with a first round pick and a couple pick swaps involved.
lol Moody and low effort Kuminga for either of those.
I feel like you’re not thinking about the fact that New Orleans would have to agree to this deal. It would have to be something that benefits them as well. It’s gonna take a lot more than Moody to get Herb Jones. Herb is their best defensive player by far. They not gonna just give him away.
Warriors don’t have enough to get Trey Murphy let’s be real. Pels shouldn’t give up Trey unless someone gives up a huge package or a lottery pick plus a good young player or something like that. I don’t see them trading him anytime soon tbh. I wouldn’t be looking to trade Herb either but that’s more possible for sure.
Lakers can’t add either without using Reaves.
Jebron Lames!
Sixers will give you PG and McCain for AD
Maxey VJ Oubre AD Embiid
Grimes Edwards Barlow Drummond
As a Sixers fan PG has been fine, but could be better.
16-5.5-3.5 shooting 41-40-87 and McCain much the same really fine but kinda underwhelming, 7-3-2 shooting 35-32-84.
AD yes the injury concerns but when he plays he’s still really good, 20.5-11-3 shooting 52-29-73. Defensively we’d be a lot stronger with him. Offensively we have the perimeter threats in Maxey VJ Grimes and Oubre. It would provide a difficult match up for teams having two bigs that average 20 and can play inside and out.
We’d be better equipped for our eastern match ups. Celtics have no bigs and would struggle, Pistons aren’t a great shooting team and would have another big to contend with, Raptors not great shooters and Knicks we have beat in MSG twice. Say by some miracle we made it out the east, we had two bigs for Jokic, same for Spurs with Wemby, OKC is tough regardless who you have, Rockets a bigger side too.
Mavs would get McCain who is solid and would be nice to pair with Cooper long term. Both PG and AD have the near the same contracts so not worse off in that way. If anything allows Cooper to be a 4 and PG a 3 which is there correct positions personally.
Idk say you did the ATL deal, KP likely doesn’t hang around and in terms of production is basically on par with PG, Risacher isn’t as good as McCain and Kennard was just for salary matching anyway. Think it could be good for both sides
Zacch Risacher is literally better than McCain in every way & projects to be better in the future as well. Hence him being the #1 pick & McCain going mid 1st rd. Plus Porzingis is expiring while PG has numerous yrs left. Hawks offer gives them flexibility plus a better prospect.
Maybe pre draft Zach was better but right now I really don’t see it.
McCain has shown glimpses of being a really good scorer and shooter who is happy to play either guard spot. First year much like his college year he had excellent efficiency and this year he’s struggled coming back from injury and finding his role again.
Risacher first year looked alright 12.5-3.5-1.5 on average shooting numbers and this year is shooting worse and rebounding worse. He is better defensively.
But I mean going off projections, McCain looks like he could be a solid 20-5 efficient shooter very easily. Whereas Risacher looks like he will stay around 15-5-2 for his career. I don’t see him being a shooter, he doesn’t rebound hugely, he doesn’t handle or create, he looks a career bench role player sorry.
Building around Cooper, adding a shooter like McCain could be a really solid piece.
Yes you’re right about cap flexibility but I mean having PG for 2 years also wouldn’t be a bad thing. Good solid vet, he’s a two way wing, think he’d be a great on court fit actually
I mean I can already tell you don’t watch these guys much. Zacch is not having a good start to the season but he’s still playing better than McCain. McCain had a great start to his career but it’s been downhill since then. He doesn’t seem to have a future in Philly with VJ & Maxey ahead of him imo & if he can’t become a better facilitator his NBA career could be in jeopardy as well bc his size will always be a minus. He also has durability issues that Zacch don’t have. Zacch’s biggest issue by far is that he’s so slim & he plays so soft. Also his bball IQ is below average rn. These are all things that will definitely get better over time while McCain’s future is more iffy. Zacch over McCain is a no brainer now same as it was at the draft.
Porzingis is a better choice than PG for the cap flexibility but part of that is that they could bring him back at probably half of what PG makes. And Porzingis is a better fit with Dallas than PG tbh.
I disagree with Zach over McCain, yes hes been poor this season but it’s largely due to coming back from injury and having a loaded backcourt.
Have to think long term if he stays, Grimes is a FA and Oubre is a FA this offseason and both will want to be paid. McCain could easily have a bigger role next year as the sixth man behind Maxey and VJ. As for size and facilitating he’s 6’3 and can play point or shooting guard and what he does is score the ball very efficiently. He doesn’t need loads of touches or to create for himself just catch and rip and those kinda players always have a future in the league. I see McCain being an Austin Reaves/CJ McCollum/Jason Terry kinda guard. Whereas Risacher to me will be a Rui Hachimura/Chandler Parsons/Tayshaun Prince kinda forward
Yea more glass panels for the 76ers house.
Swapping on piece of glass for another but getting the better one hahaha
Mavs have Kyrie coming back next yr. Mavs don’t want Trae or need him.
AD missed two games. And this board lit up like a Christmas tree. So are we OVER it now. His two games back — (Mavs went 1–1). 37 mins, 13 pts, 8 reb, AND
39 mins, 26 pts, 12 reb, 5 blk, 3 ast.
Its so funny on NBA instagram many are saying Trae might be out of the league soon because he’s too small and plays zero defense. Pat Spencer in GSW is currently being exposed for his poor defense in the same way.
He’s too good offensively. You protect a guy like that. Thats what team ball is. He plays team D. Which is more than Luka does.
Defense is not as important today. Yet in a close game or in the playoffs. You can’t win without making stops. To me the simplest way to have decent, good team D. Is start with a rim protector.
OKC: defense is not important.
Nobody plays D like they use to. You really need an explanation. I guess you don’t know the game has changed. Do you know OKC doesn’t use a PG. Do you understand why they call it positionaless basketball. Times change all the time……..
Try reading the whole post……