The Atlanta Hawks kicked off trade season with a seismic move, sending franchise cornerstone Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. It was a bold play that signaled a new direction in Atlanta-and with the NBA trade deadline looming on February 5, the front office may not be done dealing.
One name that’s surfaced in connection with the Hawks? Dallas Mavericks All-Star big man Anthony Davis.
Yes, that Anthony Davis.
While Davis has been the subject of swirling trade rumors in recent weeks, former NBA forward Chandler Parsons added fuel to the fire during a recent appearance on Run It Back on FanDuel TV. Parsons made a compelling case for why Atlanta should swing big-again-and take a chance on Davis.
“If I’m Atlanta, and I’m kind of the middle of the pack, I just got rid of Trae Young and I got my future guy, regardless of if we bring in Anthony Davis or not, in Jalen Johnson, I think I’m okay with swinging for the fence here and making this splash,” Parsons said. “If it works, great.
If it doesn’t, then at least we shot our shot and went to get an all-world type player. It’s a lot to give up, but I think I would do it.”
Let’s unpack that.
The proposed trade discussed on the show would send Kristaps Porzingis, Zaccharie Risacher, Vit Krejci, and a first-round pick to Dallas in exchange for Davis. That’s a hefty package, especially considering Risacher was last year’s No. 1 overall pick and the Hawks’ own pick could very well land in the lottery. It’s the kind of move that could reshape both franchises-immediately and long-term.
But there’s a wrinkle here: Davis is currently sidelined with a hand injury. That doesn’t erase his value, but it does complicate the calculus.
When healthy, Davis remains one of the league’s most impactful two-way players. In his 20 appearances this season for the Mavericks, he’s logged over 31 minutes per game while averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks.
He’s shooting 50.6% from the field, though his outside shot has struggled-just 27% from three-point range-and he’s converting 72.8% from the line.
That’s still elite production, especially on the defensive end, where Davis can anchor a unit and alter the geometry of the floor. For a Hawks team that just moved on from its offensive engine in Young, adding a defensive stalwart like Davis could provide a new identity-one rooted in size, versatility, and rim protection.
Of course, availability has always been the concern with Davis. Injuries have followed him throughout his career, and any team that trades for him is betting not just on talent, but on durability. That’s a high-stakes gamble for a franchise like Atlanta, which is clearly in the midst of a retooling phase.
And despite the chatter, league reports suggest that Davis is increasingly likely to stay put in Dallas through the deadline. The Mavericks, who’ve made a serious push to contend in the West, may not be eager to part with their All-Star big man-especially if they believe he’ll be healthy come playoff time.
Still, the fact that Atlanta is even linked to a player like Davis says something about the team’s mindset. They’re not content to simply rebuild slowly. They’re keeping the door open for big moves, and if the right opportunity presents itself, they’re willing to take a swing.
Whether that swing connects or not? That’s the risk every front office has to weigh.
But one thing’s clear: the Hawks aren’t playing it safe. And in today’s NBA, sometimes that’s exactly what it takes to change your fortunes.