The Dallas Mavericks are staring down a harsh reality: the Anthony Davis experiment hasn’t just failed-it’s unraveling in real time, and the fallout could be brutal. With the trade deadline looming and Davis sidelined yet again, Dallas is reportedly shopping the 10-time All-Star for what may amount to little more than expiring contracts. And if that’s all they walk away with, it’ll only deepen the sting of the original Luka Doncic trade-a move that’s already being called one of the worst in sports history.
Let’s rewind for a second. When the Mavericks dealt Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Davis, the thinking was clear: go all-in on a proven star, pair him with a dynamic supporting cast, and chase a title.
But the gamble hasn’t paid off. Davis has struggled to stay on the floor this season, first missing 14 games with a calf strain, and now out again after damaging ligaments in his left hand.
He’s opted against surgery, which means he could return before the playoffs-but the clock is ticking, and teams aren’t exactly lining up to take on a big man with a growing injury history and a hefty contract.
Dallas has been quietly working the phones for months, trying to find a suitor for Davis, but interest has been lukewarm at best. The issue isn’t just availability-it’s value.
Front offices around the league know what Davis can do when healthy, but they’re also wary of betting big on a player who hasn’t been able to string together a full, dominant season in a while. That’s made it tough for the Mavericks to drum up serious offers, and now there’s talk that the best they might get is a package built around expiring deals-names like Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard have been floated.
That kind of return would be a tough pill to swallow, especially when you stack it up against what Luka Doncic is doing in L.A. The former Maverick has blossomed into a full-blown superstar with the Lakers, turning in MVP-caliber performances and elevating his team into contention. Meanwhile, Dallas is left holding the bag, trying to salvage something-anything-from a trade that’s trending toward disaster territory.
The Atlanta Hawks have emerged as one of the few teams with sustained interest in Davis, but even they’re drawing a hard line. Atlanta reportedly isn’t willing to part with the 2026 first-round pick they hold from the Pelicans or promising young forward Zaccharie Risacher. That puts Dallas in a bind: either accept a modest return now and move on, or hold onto Davis through the offseason in hopes of a better market.
But here’s the catch-waiting might not help. Davis’ value isn’t trending upward, and if the Mavericks do end up trading him for a package of short-term contracts, the optics of the Doncic deal are going to look even worse.
Fans and analysts alike will be quick to stack the full trade tree, and it won’t be pretty. That’s not always a fair way to assess deals-context matters, and hindsight is undefeated-but it’s the reality Dallas is facing.
For the Mavericks, this is a pivotal moment. Do they cut their losses now and reset the roster, or ride it out and hope Davis can return to form in time to boost his trade value?
Either way, the pressure is on. The front office is going to have to make a tough call, and whatever they decide, the shadow of that Doncic trade isn’t going away anytime soon.