Things haven’t gone particularly well for the Dallas Mavericks this season. While Cooper Flagg has emerged after a relatively slow start, the Mavericks are 9-16 to open the season, and could be a popular seller at the NBA trade deadline.
If the team does sell off parts, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis would be at the top of their list. Though Davis has already been limited by injuries, he’s proven to still be effective while on the court, averaging 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in 10 games this season.
Should the Mavericks decide to put Davis on the block, the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are among the teams that reportedly have interest in acquiring Dallas’ star, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
At 19-5, the Pistons are already the best team in the Eastern Conference. Adding a player like Davis to an already strong roster would go a long way toward making Detroit a true championship contender. The same can be said of the 15-10 Toronto Raptors, who aren’t far behind the Pistons in the East.
The Hawks currently sit on the fringes of the playoffs, though adding a player like Davis would likely elevate the team into a more serious contender.
It’s not a guarantee the Mavericks part ways with Davis, per Charania. Davis’ agent Rich Paul has met with Mavericks co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi on the team’s future plans. They reportedly told Paul they want to see how the team performs over the next few weeks before making a decision on Davis. It’s possible the Mavericks could offer Davis an extension, per Charania.
Davis’ current contract covers the rest of this season and next year. At that point, Davis has a $62.7 million player option for the 2027-28 NBA season. He can either pick that up or decline it, hitting the free-agent market looking for a long-term deal. In that scenario, Davis would be 34 when he became a free agent.
He could also sign another massive extension before that happens. In August, Davis will be eligible for a four-year, $275 million max extension, per Charania. That deal would take Davis through his age-37 season, when he would make $76 million. It’s a massive commitment to an aging player, though it might be a necessary move for the team that acquires Davis in a trade. Otherwise, that team risks losing Davis after just a season and a half.
If the Mavericks opt to sell off parts, Davis is far from the only player who will be on the way out. The team is also exploring the trade market for Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, per Charania.
Of that group, Davis would likely make the biggest impact on his new team. When healthy, he can still perform like a superstar, and is capable of lifting a franchise to another level. The Pistons, Hawks and Raptors would greatly benefit from acquiring the big man, though they won’t be the only teams that feel that way. If Davis is put on the trade block, plenty of contenders should — at the very least — check in on the Mavericks’ asking price.
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