As the NBA trade deadline inches closer, all eyes in Dallas are on Anthony Davis-and not for the reasons fans had hoped when the Mavericks made their blockbuster move last year. According to league insiders, there’s a growing belief among NBA executives that Davis is likely to remain with the Mavs past the deadline, barring a salary dump. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise still reeling from the aftermath of the Luka Dončić trade.
Before Davis’ latest injury setback, there were only a couple of teams reportedly showing interest-the Hawks and Raptors. But that was before he injured his hand.
While surgery was ultimately avoided, Davis is still expected to miss about six weeks. And with the trade deadline less than three weeks away, that timeline effectively removes him from the market.
Even if he’s back shortly after, his availability-and durability-remain massive question marks.
This isn’t new territory for Dallas fans. Over the past year, Davis’ inability to stay on the floor has been a recurring theme.
Now, with his return date uncertain and the deadline looming, the Mavericks are left in a holding pattern. And let’s be honest: even if Davis does come back healthy, there’s no guarantee he’ll stay that way.
That’s the reality teams are weighing when considering whether to make a move for the 32-year-old.
But it’s not just the injury history that’s giving front offices pause. Davis is owed $54.1 million this season, with that number ballooning to $58.5 million in 2026-27.
He also holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. On top of that, he’s eligible for an extension this summer-an outcome both Davis and his agent, Rich Paul, are reportedly aiming for.
That kind of financial commitment, paired with the health concerns, makes any potential deal a tough sell.
Internally, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont had hoped to see Davis share the floor with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving before making a long-term decision. But with Irving still recovering from a torn ACL, there’s no rush to bring him back this season. And without that trio taking the court together, it’s hard to evaluate what this team could’ve been.
The bigger issue here is that Dallas may have already played its hand-and lost. The decision to trade for Davis, which cost them Luka Dončić, has aged poorly.
The front office seems to be coming to terms with that reality, especially after parting ways with general manager Nico Harrison back in November. That move signaled a shift in direction, but it didn’t undo the damage.
Now, the Mavericks find themselves in a no-win situation. Trading Davis won’t bring back equal value, and holding onto him means absorbing a massive contract for a player whose availability is always in question.
The best-case scenario might be a salary dump, just to clear the books and start fresh. It’s not ideal, but sometimes cutting your losses is the only path forward.
The Dončić trade was a gamble that didn’t pay off. The Mavericks can’t change the past, but they can control what happens next. Whether that means moving Davis for whatever they can get or riding it out and hoping for a resurgence, one thing is clear: the clock is ticking, and Dallas needs to make a move-before the situation gets even worse.