Anthony Davis’ days in Dallas may be numbered.
The Mavericks are expected to test the market for the star forward leading up to the NBA trade deadline in February, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Following the dismissal of general manager Nico Harrison, who acquired Davis in the infamous Luka Doncic trade last season, Dallas’ front office plans to pivot and build around 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, whom the Mavs selected with the top overall pick in the 2025 draft.
“In the aftermath, Dumont and his new basketball cabinet, which once again includes former majority owner Mark Cuban, are plotting to pivot to the future with 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick delivered to Dallas by unprecedented lottery luck, gifting the new ownership group a second chance to build a sustainable contender around a generational talent," MacMahon writes.
“Multiple team sources said the Mavs, who are 4-11 and outside the playoff picture in the West, will also explore the trade market for Davis, the 10-time All-Star big man who was the headliner in the return of the Luka Doncic deal, as part of that process before this season's deadline.”
Dallas likely wants to wipe away any memory of Harrison’s time with the team, which would obviously include moving on from Davis. The question is what type of return the Mavs could get for the oft-injured 32-year-old.
One Western Conference executive isn’t very optimistic about Davis’ trade value at this point.
"You don't go two timelines anymore," the executive said. "You say, 'We're going to take what we can get [for Davis].' At this point, I'm not sure what they can get."
Davis’ skill has never been a question, but his availability and durability have been.
Over the course of his career, Davis has consistently missed games due to various injury issues and that trend seems unlikely to change as he continues to age.
Davis currently has two years and over $120 million remaining on his current contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. That’s a hefty price tag for a team to play for a player who comes with a lot of miles and durability concerns.
That doesn’t mean that Dallas won’t be able to find a landing spot for Davis, as his talent is immense enough to intrigue teams, but the Mavs might have to settle a bit when it comes to a potential return.
It’s also fair to wonder what Dallas’ plan to rebuild around Flagg means for veteran guard Kyrie Irving, who is currently sidelined as he recovers from a torn ACL in his left knee. Irving likely wants an opportunity to compete for championships at this stage in his career, and thus he might not want to be part of a reboot in Dallas. Could Dallas ultimately look to trade him, too?
That remains to be seen, but the Mavericks are certainly a team to keep an eye on between now and the trade deadline.
More NBA news:
- Steph Curry passes Vince Carter on NBA all-time scoring list
- How LeBron James made NBA history twice in his season debut for Lakers
- LeBron James' favorite new target isn't Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves
- D’Angelo Russell gets criticized for ball-hog moment vs. Timberwolves
- Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel nearing Larry Bird-level efficiency