With the NBA trade deadline just around the corner, deals are already starting to shake up the landscape-and one blockbuster in particular might have caught the attention of Mavericks fans. The Memphis Grizzlies just sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in a significant trade that included multiple young players, a salary match in Kyle Anderson, and three future first-round picks.
For Dallas, that kind of return is eye-opening. No, the Mavericks aren’t actively shopping Anthony Davis right now, and no, they shouldn’t expect a Jackson-level haul if they do move him-especially not at the deadline. But this trade does crack open the door to the idea that Davis could still command real value on the market, even if it's not quite on the level of a 26-year-old All-Star with years ahead of him.
Let’s be clear: Jackson Jr. and Davis are in very different stages of their careers. Jackson just turned 26, with time to grow into his prime.
Davis, meanwhile, is pushing 33 and has had his fair share of injuries. That age gap alone changes the equation when it comes to long-term investment.
But what’s interesting here is the type of player both are-rim-protecting bigs who can anchor a defense. And that’s where the comparison starts to matter.
Even with Davis nursing a left finger sprain he suffered against Utah a few weeks back, his defensive ceiling remains elite when healthy. While Jackson Jr. has made his mark as a help-side shot blocker, Davis has long been one of the league’s most versatile defenders-capable of switching, protecting the rim, and anchoring a top-tier defense. You could argue that, at full strength, Davis still has the edge defensively.
That said, Jackson Jr. offers more as a floor spacer, which is a valuable asset in today’s NBA. Davis has never quite developed that consistent outside shot, and his offensive game leans more toward post-ups and midrange looks. So while the archetype is similar, the skill sets aren’t identical-and that matters when front offices are evaluating fit and upside.
Still, the Grizzlies-Jazz deal should give Dallas some optimism. If a team was willing to give up that kind of package for Jackson Jr., it’s not unreasonable to think the Mavericks could get a solid return for Davis-something like a first-round pick, a young prospect or two, and an expiring deal to make the money work. That’s assuming, of course, Davis is healthy and shows he can still impact winning down the stretch.
And that’s the big variable. If Davis returns and plays well to close out the season, he could rebuild some of the value that seemed to vanish after the injury. Alternatively, if Dallas shuts him down for the rest of the year and he enters the offseason fully healthy, that might be enough to spark interest from teams looking for a veteran defensive presence.
There are, of course, some complications. Davis has made it clear he prefers to play center, not power forward, and any team trading for him would likely need to be ready to offer a contract extension-something that can cool interest quickly if the fit isn’t perfect. But even with those factors in play, the Jackson Jr. trade is a reminder that the market for defensive bigs is still alive and well.
So while the Mavericks might not be fielding offers for Davis this week, they’ll be watching closely. Because if this deadline has taught us anything, it’s that there’s still demand-and Dallas might have a valuable card to play come summertime.