Raptors Emerging as Top Suitor in Anthony Davis Trade Talks
The Anthony Davis trade buzz is heating up-and if there’s one team making real noise right now, it’s the Toronto Raptors.
Ever since Nico Harrison was let go as the Mavericks' GM, Davis' name has been swirling in trade rumors. While several teams have been loosely linked to the All-Star big man, it’s Toronto that’s starting to separate itself from the pack. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Raptors’ interest isn’t just casual window-shopping-it’s genuine.
“Toronto has definitely registered interest (in Davis),” Stein confirmed on a recent episode of the DLLS Mavs Podcast. That’s a far cry from the “exploratory” label Stein used when referencing the Atlanta Hawks, or the “vastly overstated” buzz around the Detroit Pistons. Translation: the Raptors are serious.
Why Toronto Makes Sense
Toronto’s interest in Davis isn’t coming out of nowhere. The Raptors are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race and have the look of a team that’s one big piece away from making a real run. Adding a dominant interior presence like Davis could be the exact move that elevates them from playoff hopeful to legitimate contender.
Let’s be honest-Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes have been solid, but come playoff time, teams need more than just solid. They need star power. They need someone who can anchor the paint on both ends, take pressure off the perimeter, and bring some championship pedigree to a locker room that’s tasted glory but hasn’t seen much of it lately.
Davis checks all those boxes.
He’s a proven champion from his time with the Lakers, and his two-way impact-when healthy-is still elite. Since returning from a left calf strain on November 28, he’s looked like himself again. He’s helped Dallas notch key wins over contenders like Denver and Houston, and his presence on both ends has been a difference-maker.
The Raptors Know the Risk-And the Reward
Toronto has been down this road before. Back in 2018, they rolled the dice on another superstar with injury concerns and an expiring deal: Kawhi Leonard.
That gamble paid off in the biggest way possible. The Raptors shipped out franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a first-round pick to land Leonard and Danny Green.
One season later, they were NBA champions.
It was a bold move, and it worked.
Now, the Raptors find themselves in a similar spot. Davis isn’t on an expiring contract, but there are still risks-his injury history chief among them. But if he can stay healthy, he could be the kind of transformational player who puts Toronto back on the championship map.
What’s Next for Dallas?
For the Mavericks, the question is whether to hold or deal. Davis has been a force since returning to the lineup, and Dallas has looked strong with him on the floor. But with the front office in transition and the trade deadline looming, they’ll have to decide if Davis is part of their long-term vision-or if now is the time to maximize his value.
If they do decide to move him, all signs point north. The Raptors are making the most noise, and given their track record-and their current roster makeup-it’s not hard to see why.
Toronto may not have the cachet to lure top-tier free agents, but they’ve shown they’re not afraid to swing big in the trade market. And with Davis proving he can stay on the floor, that swing might just be coming.