The Dallas Mavericks are fully entering the Cooper Flagg era as the season moves along. The Mavericks didn’t get off to a great start, which was somewhat shocking given the talent on their roster. Flagg didn’t begin the year on fire, but he has found his rhythm, and as a rookie, he has already earned the approval of his teammates.
“The other thing that I think has gone unnoticed is that his teammates enjoy him running this team. That doesn't happen in this league. I think that's a plus,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said.
After the slow start, the Mavericks must turn things around quickly if they want to make the playoffs. However, if progress doesn’t come, Dallas could eventually explore the possibility of shopping Anthony Davis.
“The Pistons (19-5), Raptors (15-10) and Hawks (14-11) represent high-level threats in the East and are having seasons that give hope that a player like Davis -- a 10-time All-Star who has spent his entire career in the Western Conference -- can elevate them into a viable championship-quality team,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has the Atlanta Hawks sending a massive package to acquire Davis.
“The trade: Kristaps Porziņģis, Asa Newell, Luke Kennard and 2027 first-round pick (top-4 protected, via NOP or MIL) to the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis,” Buckley proposed. “The Hawks reportedly have eyes on Davis, per ESPN's Shams Charania, and if they could bring in the Brow without sending out their best trade chips, that might be the kind of move that suddenly puts them on a contending-level path.”
Newell was part of the 2025 draft class, which would align well with the Mavericks’ long-term vision. For Davis, this would mark the second consecutive season in which he is traded.
Both teams could come away satisfied in a deal like this, but for Davis, being moved might be becoming the new normal. It would mark the third trade of his career, and as Dallas continues to build around Flagg, it could ultimately be the right move.