Nico Harrison is out as the Mavericks general manager. Could his star trade acquisition, Anthony Davis, be next?
Speculation is rampant around the league that Dallas will try to move Davis less than a year after acquiring him. According to The Ringer's Zach Lowe, "There's going to be Anthony Davis trade talks of some seriousness. Whether they result in a deal or not is impossible to say. I would bet on yes."
With the Mavericks in the midst of a lost season, it does make sense in theory to move the 32-year-old big man while he still has some value left. He's in the first year of a three-year, $175 million contract extension and will earn $54 million this season.
The Mavericks are well into the luxury tax and above the first apron, making trades slightly difficult. They control their own draft pick in a loaded 2026 draft. Moving Davis would create avenues for Cooper Flagg to return to his natural power forward position, potentially save the team a lot of money, and improve the odds of getting Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, or Cameron Boozer to add alongside Flagg.
The Mavs can't go for a total rebuild from the ground up. They don't control their draft picks from 2027 to 2030, so they do need to figure out a way to maximize their future without having to stay in the lottery for multiple years.
Here are the teams that make the most sense as trade partners.
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Ranking Anthony Davis trade destinations
5. Sixers
The Sixers are a better team than most expected, thanks to another explosive leap in development from Tyrese Maxey and the sterling play of rookie VJ Edgecombe. That surplus of talented guards could make last year's rookie standout, Jared McCain, expendable. Paul George also hasn't played yet and is considered one of the worst contracts in the league.
Davis could certainly help Philadelphia's thin center depth behind the oft-injured Joel Embiid. This trade would be tricky due to both of these teams being above the tax and the Sixers being barely below the first apron. After Dec. 15, they could offer a package of George, McCain, and one of the two first-rounders that they have in exchange for Davis and Dante Exum.
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4. Bulls
Nikola Vucevic is an extremely important player for the Bulls, but his lack of rim defense is a major issue. Vooch is also set to be a free agent this summer.
Davis wouldn't spread the floor as well as Vucevic, which is critical for the drive-heavy style of play Chicago has embraced. He would help clean up their poor point-of-attack defense though and give Josh Giddey a vertical threat that is not currently on the team's roster.
This one seems somewhat unlikely given how attached the Bulls have been to Vucevic and how far they are from championship contention, but they do need star power to take the next step.
Chicago could cobble together enough expiring salaries with Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Coby White to get close to Davis' salary number. Rookie Noa Essengue, who was taken with the No. 12 pick but hasn't played yet for the team, could be a nice throw-in. The Bulls would have to add at least one pick to make this work. They have a lottery-protected pick from the Blazers, along with up to four of their own picks to offer.
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3. Sacramento Kings
The Kings are in the midst of a disaster season. They have good players, but the fit doesn't make any sense. There are already rumors that their big three of Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan could be on the trade block.
Sabonis in particular has seen a huge reduction in the playmaking role that made him an All-Star in previous seasons. His defensive limitations have contributed to the Kings being one of the worst defensive teams in the league.
Davis would certainly help raise the ceiling of that team. He could instantly shore up their weak rim protection and would be much more switchable than Sabonis. The Kings have never been afraid to take big swings. This is a high risk, high reward move.
For the Mavericks, Sabonis would give them the passer and shot creator that they so desperately need. He's a great handoff hub, he is a lot more durable than Davis, and he's three years younger.
The Kings have up to six first-round picks that they could move in a trade, including a protected pick from the Spurs. After Dec. 15, they could throw in a few of those alongside Sabonis and Dennis Schroder in exchange for Davis and D'Angelo Russell.
Both point guards involved in this potential deal have been disappointments this season, but the Mavericks could badly use Schroder's ability to get to the rim.
2. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors and Mavericks are both first apron teams, which makes the financials difficult to work out in any trade. A third team would need to be included, or the Raptors would need to make a small cost-cutting trade beforehand.
With that out of the way, the Raptors are a very expensive team that is mediocre in a weak Eastern Conference. They've made several win-now types of moves. What's one more added to the equation?
Jakob Poeltl hasn't quite looked like himself this year, due in part to back issues. Davis would certainly be an upgrade, and he would be a great backline for the aggressive style of defense that coach Darko Rajakovic prefers to play.
Poeltl, RJ Barrett or Immanuel Quickley, and promising rookie Collin Murray-Boyles could be the basis of a package for the Raptors, who have up to four picks available to trade.
1. Miami Heat
The Heat have never been shy about trying to pursue big names. Davis would make their defense unstoppable, and he has experience playing next to Bam Adebayo from their Olympic days. He is more of a pick-and-roll center, which wouldn't be a natural fit with their new offensive system, but he and Tyler Herro would make a fantastic duo.
After Dec. 15, the Heat could offer up Andrew Wiggins, who has experienced another career revival this season, along with the expiring contract of Terry Rozier in exchange for Davis and Exum.
Wiggins would be a great fit next to Flagg and still has a few more productive seasons left at age 30. Rozier is unlikely to play. The Heat would need to add the two picks that they have available to trade in order to balance this one out. The East is wide open, and this could take Miami into the next echelon of teams.