Anshari Taslim
Dallas, TX – The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly poised to explore trade opportunities for All-NBA big man Anthony Davis, a move signaling a strategic pivot following the departure of former general manager Nico Harrison. This potential third trade in Davis’s career comes at a critical juncture for both the player and the Mavericks franchise, with implications reverberating across the league.
Davis’s previous trade sagas have been characterized by significant returns for his former teams. His initial move from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 saw the Lakers surrender a substantial package including multiple first-round picks, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart. A subsequent hypothetical trade, as envisioned in current league discourse, to the Dallas Mavericks involved an equally, if not more, aggressive acquisition strategy by former GM Nico Harrison, indicative of a willingness to overpay for a perceived missing piece. This high-stakes approach, while securing Davis, depleted the Mavericks’ draft capital, a situation the franchise now seeks to rectify.
With Harrison no longer at the helm, the Mavericks are expected to adopt a more rational long-term strategy. The immediate imperative is to recoup the draft assets expended in previous deals, particularly given that Dallas does not control its own first-round picks between 2027 and 2030. Trading Davis now, while his value remains reasonably high, is seen as the most viable path to acquiring future draft compensation and facilitating a critical tank for the 2026 NBA Draft. This timing also mitigates the risk of further injuries or performance decline impacting his trade value.
However, the landscape for a Davis trade is markedly different from his previous moves. At 32 years old, Davis’s injury history has become a more pronounced concern. His inconsistent 3-point shooting and stated preference to play power forward rather than center present potential fit challenges for prospective teams. Before his recent injury, Davis was reportedly experiencing some of the least impactful basketball of his career. Despite these factors, his fundamental value remains undeniable. Prior to the aforementioned hypothetical trade to Dallas, he averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds, consistently ranking among the NBA’s top five to ten defensive players. His versatility allows him to integrate into diverse defensive schemes, and he has historically demonstrated exceptional playoff performance, notably without suffering career-altering injuries such as Achilles or ACL tears.
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The pursuit of Davis will likely focus on teams that view him as the singular piece capable of elevating their championship aspirations or a star obtainable at a comparatively reasonable price. Davis is extension-eligible this offseason, and while his age and injury record may deter some, a motivated contender could view the risk as justifiable. Below is an exhaustive assessment of all 29 NBA teams, excluding the Mavericks, ranked by their feasibility and motivation as potential trade destinations for Anthony Davis.
Tier XV: Functionally Impossible
29. Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavaliers’ salary structure under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement effectively precludes them from acquiring a player of Davis’s contract size. Being over the second apron, Cleveland cannot aggregate salaries in a trade, and no single Cavaliers player earns more than Davis. To execute a legal trade, Cleveland would need to fall below the second apron within the transaction, a $22 million deficit that renders a deal practically impossible.
Tier XIV: Misaligned Timelines
28. Utah Jazz, 27. Washington Wizards, 26. Brooklyn Nets: These three franchises are firmly in various stages of rebuilding. The Jazz, Wizards, and Nets already possess young or prime-aged centers (e.g., Walker Kessler, Daniel Gafford, Nic Claxton) whose development would be impeded by Davis’s presence. While Brooklyn might consider a low-cost acquisition for subsequent asset accumulation, a significant investment in a 32-year-old star does not align with their current trajectories.
Tier XIII: Salary Structure Incompatibilities
25. Denver Nuggets, 24. Orlando Magic: Denver’s roster composition makes a Davis trade challenging. While a package around Jamal Murray’s salary is feasible, Murray earns $10 million less than Davis, and his departure would leave the Nuggets devoid of secondary guard creation. Aaron Gordon’s defensive versatility and role already provide much of what Denver would seek from Davis. Orlando, conversely, employs a center-by-committee approach, utilizing Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, Moe Wagner, and Jonathan Isaac. With significant future salary commitments to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Desmond Bane, and existing shooting deficiencies, exchanging young talent for an older, non-shooting big man holds little appeal.
Tier XII: Insufficient Trade Capital
23. Phoenix Suns: The Suns’ limited draft capital, largely expended in previous star acquisitions, severely hampers their ability to construct a competitive trade offer. A package akin to their return for Kevin Durant, potentially involving players like Jalen Green (who is not on the Suns, indicating a conceptual mismatch in the source material’s premise), Khaman Maluach, or Dillon Brooks, lacks the necessary first-round picks to entice Dallas. The appeal of a Devin Booker-Anthony Davis duo is evident, but the practical hurdles of deal construction appear insurmountable.
Tier XI: Existing "Anthony Davis-esque" Talent
22. Oklahoma City Thunder, 21. San Antonio Spurs, 20. Memphis Grizzlies: These teams already feature elite, younger rim-protecting big men who offer similar defensive capabilities and, in some cases, superior shooting range. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, and Memphis’s Jaren Jackson Jr. fulfill the defensive anchor role. The Thunder, for instance, utilize Isaiah Hartenstein effectively as a second big at a fraction of Davis’s cost. The Grizzlies, while beset by injuries to other big men like Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama, and Zach Edey, are unlikely to pivot from their core, particularly with star Ja Morant’s own injury history and shooting limitations.
Tier X: Prioritizing Young Core
19. Houston Rockets, 18. Miami Heat, 17. Detroit Pistons, 16. Portland Trail Blazers: These franchises are committed to developing their young talent. Alperen Sengun’s emergence as an All-Star makes him untouchable for Houston, which already leads the NBA in rebounding and ranks high in paint scoring and defense. Miami remains invested in Kel’El Ware’s development alongside Bam Adebayo. Detroit’s Jalen Duren is having a breakout season, complemented by Isaiah Stewart’s defensive prowess. Portland is nurturing Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara. While some of these teams might seek star power, they would likely prioritize players with better shooting profiles (e.g., Lauri Markkanen) or those who do not overlap with their existing young frontcourt cornerstones.
Tier IX: High Stakes, Limited Ammunition
15. Milwaukee Bucks, 14. Los Angeles Clippers: Both teams possess limited tradable first-round picks (Milwaukee’s 2031 or 2032; Clippers’ 2030 and 2032), implying they have one significant move to make. For Milwaukee, the recent acquisition of Myles Turner and strong team performance suggest a focus on a wing defender or a proven guard, not Davis, particularly with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extension decision looming. The Clippers, currently struggling at 3-7 and facing uncertainty regarding Kawhi Leonard’s future and an ongoing investigation, are likely prioritizing assets for a post-Leonard era rather than pushing more chips into the present for Davis, despite potential salary matching with players like John Collins or Bogdan Bogdanović.
Tier VIII: Interest Hampered by Salary Structure
13. Boston Celtics: The Celtics present an intriguing basketball fit for Davis, offering a championship-contending environment and addressing a center void. However, the financial implications are prohibitive. Matching Davis’s salary would likely involve Jaylen Brown, an unlikely scenario given Brown’s age, loyalty, and strong performance. A package around Derrick White and Anfernee Simons (who is not on the Celtics, another error in the source) would strain the Celtics’ cap flexibility with three supermax contracts, making roster construction under the second apron nearly impossible, particularly with existing injury concerns among their highly paid stars.
Tier VII: A Direction, Albeit Uninspired
12. Toronto Raptors: While a Davis trade for the Raptors lacks clear strategic synergy, it offers a potential direction for a team currently paying luxury tax for a .500 record. The Raptors possess all their future picks, which could appeal to Dallas. However, Toronto’s existing salary commitments and the unlikelihood of contending with Davis, coupled with Dallas’s probable disinterest in Toronto’s matching salaries, make this an outside possibility.
Tier VI: Mild Intrigue
11. Charlotte Hornets, 10. New Orleans Pelicans:
Charlotte Hornets: Despite being a non-win-now team, the Hornets have a clear need for veteran leadership and a high-level big man. Davis would be an ideal pick-and-roll partner for LaMelo Ball, potentially elevating Charlotte to Play-In contention and establishing a winning culture. A hypothetical package involving Miles Bridges, Collin Sexton, a young player, and a top-four protected first-round pick could be feasible, especially given Charlotte’s future cap flexibility for a Davis extension.
New Orleans Pelicans: A reunion with Davis, while seemingly far-fetched, presents a unique strategic consideration. The Pelicans’ existing frontcourt challenges, particularly the overlap between Zion Williamson and other bigs, could be mitigated by Davis’s defensive prowess and ability to play alongside a developing talent like Derik Queen. Williamson’s non-guaranteed contract might appeal to Dallas. If New Orleans could secure an unprotected future pick (similar to the Hawks’ acquisition of a Pelicans pick), the risk of acquiring an older Davis might be deemed acceptable for a team reluctant to tank.
Tier V: Speculative and Logistically Challenging
9. Los Angeles Lakers: A Davis-Lakers reunion is highly complex. The Lakers would likely decline a direct trade for Austin Reaves due to his youth, health, and current performance. A package centered on their unprotected 2031 first-round pick and four available swaps (2026, 2028, 2030, 2032) presents significant salary matching hurdles (e.g., Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht) and roster spot issues under the first apron hard cap. A hypothetical LeBron James-for-Davis trade would resolve many Laker issues, but James’s no-trade clause and the significant optics of such a deal make it highly improbable.
Tier IV: Vulnerable Eastern Conference Contenders
8. Atlanta Hawks, 7. Philadelphia 76ers:
Atlanta Hawks: With Trae Young as an elite pick-and-roll operator, Davis would provide an ideal lob-finishing big, creating easy offense. The Hawks’ collection of wings could bolster defense, though shooting would be a concern. A trade would likely involve Clint Capela (correcting the source’s error of Porziņģis being on Atlanta) and other valuable assets like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, or Luke Kennard, with Risacher potentially untouchable. Atlanta’s valuable unprotected New Orleans pick and young roster provide flexibility to pursue both present competitiveness and future growth.
Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers, boasting a deep backcourt, could integrate Davis into their desired faster pace more comfortably than Joel Embiid. Critically, a Davis trade could serve as an exit strategy for Philadelphia’s large contracts (Embiid or Paul George). With a young core around Cooper Flagg and future draft picks, including the enticing 2028 unprotected Clippers pick from the James Harden trade, GM Daryl Morey might aggressively pursue a deal to contend for the 2026 Finals while also clearing future cap space.
Tier III: Officially Tempted
6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5. Indiana Pacers, 4. New York Knicks: These three teams, having come close to recent championship contention, face significant obstacles to future success and may view Davis as a calculated risk.
Minnesota Timberwolves: While limited in draft picks, Minnesota could offer young players like Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon, Jaylen Clark, or Joan Beringer to Dallas. A trade would necessitate moving two of their current bigs (e.g., Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Naz Reid) to match salary, a challenge given Dallas’s lack of need for expensive bigs. Davis offers more versatile playoff defense than Gobert and a greater scoring threat, potentially providing the second superstar needed to challenge teams like Oklahoma City.
Indiana Pacers: The Pacers’ glaring need for a center makes Davis an attractive option. His fit with their fast-paced style and defensive capabilities would open new strategic avenues. Indiana possesses all its future picks, making them an appealing trade partner. However, matching salary would likely involve Pascal Siakam, raising the question of choosing between a known fit (Siakam) and a potentially better, but older, player (Davis). The impact on their valuable 2026 pick and the conservative nature of the Pacers organization are also key considerations.
New York Knicks: The Knicks face a choice between Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns. While Towns is younger, offers five-out spacing, and fits with Mitchell Robinson, Davis could resolve the team’s defensive concerns with multiple max-contract players. A Brunson-Davis pick-and-roll, surrounded by shooters, or a double-big lineup with Robinson, could offer a higher ceiling for a team already among the league’s best in net rating. Constructing a trade, potentially involving Towns, would be complex but achievable if the Knicks prioritize a championship ceiling.
Tier II: Ideal for Playoff Ambitions
3. Sacramento Kings, 2. Chicago Bulls:
Sacramento Kings: Driven by ownership’s consistent pressure for competitiveness, the Kings frequently appear in such trade discussions. A deal for Davis, potentially involving Zach LaVine, Keon Ellis, salary fillers, and one or two first-round picks, could address their defensive shortcomings. While Davis and Domantas Sabonis present a somewhat awkward fit, Sabonis’s shooting and Davis’s preference for power forward could make it workable. This move, despite calls for a rebuild, aligns with the Kings’ perceived desperation to secure a playoff berth.
Chicago Bulls: Davis’s hometown connection adds an emotional element. Nikola Vučević, while effective, is older and more limited than Davis. The Bulls’ strong performance could justify including Coby White to fully entrust the backcourt to Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Ayo Dosunmu. Davis’s presence would aid the development of young prospects like Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue. With available picks and expiring contracts, a trade is feasible. While Davis might elevate the Bulls to a firm playoff team, a championship ceiling remains questionable, prompting a debate on the judicious use of assets for a player with potentially two to three high-level seasons remaining. However, achieving 50 wins and a playoff series victory for a few seasons might be deemed a worthy goal, reminiscent of the Derrick Rose era.
Tier I: The Missing Championship Piece
1. Golden State Warriors: The Warriors have a long-documented interest in Anthony Davis dating back to 2018. Their current "all-in" approach on the present, combined with available picks and young players, positions them uniquely. Davis’s fit as a rim-protector and lob-catcher aligns perfectly with a decade-long organizational need, a role James Wiseman was envisioned for. His ability to play in Golden State’s switch-heavy defense and his capable ball-handling would integrate seamlessly into their unconventional offense, making him Stephen Curry’s most impactful teammate since Kevin Durant. Davis could be the crucial difference between a championship and an early exit for the Warriors.
Constructing a deal, however, presents significant challenges due to Golden State’s salary cap situation (locked below the second apron, requiring sending out approximately $52-53 million for Davis’s $54.6 million salary). Two primary scenarios emerge:
- Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green: This option involves trading Kuminga, Green, and additional salary (e.g., Moses Moody or Buddy Hield). Such a move would be a bitter pill, potentially severing Curry’s career-long partnership with Green and creating ball-handling deficiencies, despite the immediate defensive and scoring upgrade.
- Jimmy Butler: This scenario, if Butler were to be involved, would require either Dallas accepting Butler and picks or Golden State finding a third team for Butler. This is a complex undertaking, as Miami’s past difficulties in moving Butler illustrate. Potential third-party suitors like Phoenix or Milwaukee have their own financial and roster considerations.
Should a trade materialize, a lineup featuring Curry, Hield, Brooks (if acquired from Phoenix), Green, and Davis could be formidable. The Warriors’ current 6-6 record and inconsistent play underscore their need for a transformative move. If the franchise is truly committed to maximizing Stephen Curry’s final championship window, Anthony Davis represents their most compelling strategic play. The Golden State Warriors, by a comfortable margin, emerge as the most logical and motivated destination for Anthony Davis as the Dallas Mavericks contemplate his trade.
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