The Dallas Mavericks don’t seem to be interested in entering rebuild mode just yet, but that hasn’t faded the Anthony Davis trade rumors.
With the front office seeing a major in-season change after the organization swapped out Luka Doncic for Davis just one season ago, the veteran big man might be better off landing in a different situation.
According to The Athletic, Davis could be seen as the top target on the NBA trade block at this time, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t decided on a divorce just yet.
Should the Boston Celtics Target Anthony Davis?
Naming four of the best fits for Davis, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie included the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics are an interesting team in this scenario, considering they are viewed to be in a gap year. However, their record suggests otherwise.
At 16-11 to start the year, the Celtics are fourth in the Eastern Conference, trailing the third-seeded Toronto Raptors by half a game.
Despite missing Jayson Tatum (Achilles injury) and being without several key members of their championship-winning team this season, the Celtics have remained competitive in an Eastern Conference that is viewed as wide open this season.
“If he were to end up in the right place in the Eastern Conference, there is a real belief that he could turn that team into a serious favorite,” Vecenie wrote regarding Davis.
“Imagine if he ended up in Boston, Detroit or Atlanta, all of which have the assets and pieces to swing a deal and make something like this work? Any of those teams would immediately vault to the top or near the top of the odds to win that side of the playoff bracket.”
Davis’ reputation took a hit solely due to the fact that he was traded for one of the most electrifying scorers and playmakers in the game, in Luka Doncic. The terms of the deal seemed lopsided in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers at the time.
Taking away the stain that the Mavs left there, Davis remains one of the top players at his position when he's healthy.
With a nine-game sample size in Dallas last season, Davis posted averages of 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks.
Although injuries have affected his 2025-2026 season so far, Davis has continued to post an impressive line through 12 games with the Mavs. He is currently averaging 19.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks.
While it’s still early in the season, the Celtics have clearly remained one of the East’s most competitive teams. There seems to be a realistic chance of Tatum returning to the court in the spring for a playoff run. Unless they hit a sharp decline in the standings, a win-now move to improve the front court before the deadline could make a massive difference for the Celtics.