Dallas Mavericks star big man Anthony Davis has had limited action so far this season due to a calf injury and a trade is potentially the next step.
This is an awkward situation for Davis: The ownership group has effectively admitted that trading for him was a mistake. On top of that, per The Athletic, the franchise reportedly urged him to return back from injury soon enough that he was at risk to injure his Achilles.
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On paper, trading Davis (who expected to have a leadership role on this team) makes a lot of sense. He helps them win, and considering the 2026 NBA Draft is the only pick the franchise controls of their own until 2031, bottoming out to get another elite talent with Cooper Flagg (while keeping Kyrie Irving recovering on the sideline) is now widely seen as a net positive.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, it’s worth noting that Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont are expected to land on the same page (via The Stein Line):
“It’s believed the Mavericks will work with Davis’ camp over the next two-plus months as they decide whether to pursue an in-season trade. Davis’ agent Rich Paul and Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont have established a relationship that features regular contact since they were introduced at the Mavericks’ Play-In Tournament victory in Sacramento in April. The parties are thus expected to work in concert to some degree on next steps.”
The interim executives running the front office are Matt Ricardi and former NBA champion Michael Finley. Would they even have the power to approve of such a massive trade?
That much is unclear, but Davis is expected to return to practice this week, and he will have a lot more than just basketball on his mind.
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Are the Mavericks trading Anthony Davis?
If you ask Mavericks minority Marc Cuban, the franchise will not trade Davis because they are trying to win.
However, unlike with Kyrie Irving, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Mavericks are indeed listening to calls about Davis.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon also reported that the revamped front office is expected to at least “explore” the trade market for Davis. Meanwhile, Stein reported that although the Mavericks “intend to field any trade interest” in the former NBA champion, it will only get accepted based on the quality of the offer.
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To that end, due to his age and contract, it’s not exactly likely that Dallas gets the value it is likely seeking considering Davis also reportedly came into training camp overweight (but that was perhaps intentional) and then suffered a calf strain. Scouts and coaches expressed concern about his mobility, per The Athletic.
As usual with Davis, his health is reportedly the main factor that both the Mavericks and other potential suitors will consider. If he is moved, expect it to come after December 15 when recent free agents become eligible for a trade.
Which teams would trade for Anthony Davis?
SNY’s Ian Begley mentioned the New York Knicks as a potential suitor if they are offering him for less-than-market value.
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ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins reported that the Detroit Pistons have “a lot of interest” in the big man. Perhaps emerging him with a breakout player like Jalen Duren could make for a dominant frontcourt if Davis prefers to play the four but their floor-spacing would assuredly suffer.
Another potential destination, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, are his hometown Chicago Bulls. Five-time NBA All-Star guard John Wall, who played for the Kentucky Wildcats two years prior to the big man, said he heard this as well.
But all things considered, per Bontemps, “not a lot of teams” are “lining up” to trade for Davis.
Other potential suitors, according to off-shore gambling sites, include the San Antonio Spurs as well as the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat as favorites should Dallas decide the Davis era is over indeed.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: The latest Anthony Davis trade rumors are complicated for Mavericks
