Hawks and Mavericks face deadline uncertainty. Anthony Davis talks stall, leaving both teams in a familiar, speculative holding pattern.
With the NBA trade deadline one month away, two franchises repeatedly linked to leaguewide speculation — the Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks — remain caught in a familiar holding pattern: plenty of conversation, but little tangible movement.
Atlanta enters the stretch run as both a potential buyer and seller, navigating uncertainty around the futures of Trae Young and Kristaps Porziņģis. Dallas, meanwhile, has been widely viewed as a seller, with Anthony Davis emerging as the most prominent name in deadline chatter. Despite frequent mentions connecting the two teams, league sources continue to downplay the likelihood of a deal materializing anytime soon.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported this week that there is no meaningful traction in trade talks between Atlanta and Dallas centered on Davis, reinforcing the sense that both sides remain far apart.
Stein noted that Atlanta’s willingness to absorb Davis’ contract is closely tied to whether it can find a trade destination for Young. Davis is under contract for more than $58 million next season and holds a player option for nearly $63 million in 2027–28. Adding that financial commitment while risking Young exercising his own $49 million player option for 2026–27 would place the Hawks deep into luxury-tax territory — a threshold the organization has historically been reluctant to cross.
“There is no meaningful traction at the moment,” Stein reported, adding that the cost structure alone makes such a move extremely challenging for Atlanta.
Stein also addressed recent speculation surrounding Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. While rival teams continue to believe Atlanta would consider moving Risacher in the right scenario, sources with knowledge of the Hawks’ thinking have signaled that an in-season push for Davis does not meet that threshold. Additionally, Jalen Johnson and the unprotected 2026 New Orleans Pelicans first-round pick Atlanta acquired on draft night remain widely viewed around the league as essentially untouchable.
On Dallas’ side, the Mavericks are believed to be open to discussing trades involving anyone on the roster not named Cooper Flagg or Kyrie Irving. Still, that openness has yet to translate into a viable deal. Stein suggested Dallas could ultimately be forced to wait until closer to the draft — similar to Phoenix’s approach before the Kevin Durant market crystallized — if more palatable offers fail to emerge before the Feb. 5 deadline.
Sources previously told DallasHoopsJournal.com that the Mavericks are prioritizing the acquisition of at least one impactful young talent if they ultimately move Davis, while remaining disciplined rather than forcing a deadline-driven outcome. With no clear acceleration in the market, Dallas has continued to place the onus on potential suitors to meet its valuation.
While Atlanta has frequently surfaced as a theoretical suitor, skepticism persists about its willingness to assemble a package Dallas would consider sufficient. DallasHoopsJournal.com sources indicated Risacher would be a central piece the Mavericks would seek, though Atlanta has shown little urgency to include him.
Separate from the Davis discussions, Dallas has also been linked to Atlanta’s unprotected 2026 Pelicans first-round pick. According to Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix, the Mavericks have been attempting to pry the pick away for some time, even as Atlanta continues to treat it as a cornerstone asset.
“I can tell you with certainty, that the Mavericks have been trying to pry away that New Orleans Pelicans pick away from the Hawks, for some time now,” Mannix said.
With the Pelicans currently holding the second-best odds in the 2026 lottery, league observers expect Atlanta to resist any deal involving what could become a franchise-altering selection.
As the deadline approaches, the picture remains clear but unresolved. Dallas continues to weigh long-term roster construction around Flagg, while Atlanta balances financial risk, asset protection, and uncertainty around its core. For now, both teams remain active in conversation — but far from agreement.