Davis embraces staying with the Mavericks, despite a tough season. Trade talks continue, but Dallas demands a favorable deal for the star big man.
DALLAS - From where we stand? Maybe the best solution to the dilemma here is some sort of a clean goodbye as it involves Anthony Davis.
But what does A.D.'' himself think of remaining here?
Davis “would welcome” sticking with the Dallas Mavericks for the rest of the season, according to a report from NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Writes Stein: “As rough a ride as Davis’ first year as a Maverick has been — filled with injuries and seemingly non-stop negativity surrounding the franchise — one source close to the process insisted to me this week that the 32-year-old would welcome staying put for the rest of the season.''
On the one hand, MFFLs could accept this as a rare positive in the aftermath of the year-ago trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for a paltry package featuring the brittle All-Star big man.
Hey, he likes it OK here. That's gotta count for something, right?
On the other hand, this is really all about asset management and it's all about money.
Davis has opted to not undergo surgery on his left hand, a move that in theory could keep alive Mavericks trade talks involving the 10-time All-Star.
There are supposedly still multiple teams interested in trading for Davis, even though he is expected to miss six weeks with ligament damage in his hand.
But which teams are willing to wait on him? Which contenders might view him as a final piece? Which teams are prepared to give him a four-year, $275 million max extension in August?
And what if Dallas - for whatever reason - decides to drive a hard bargain here?
“The Mavericks are indeed in active trade conversations with a few teams regarding Davis, league sources say, but they continue to tell interested suitors that they will only be willing to trade him away in the next three weeks if it’s a deal they deem favorable,” Stein writes. “They are not operating with a rush to offload Davis.”
There has been buzz about the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors being interested here.
And if they were to receive a healthy Davis? He is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game this season and would bring that to their table.
But ... while the sad-sack Mavs (15-26) bumble along, he's played in just 20 games while making $54.1 million this season.
In the end, it's lovely that Davis sort of likes the Mavs. And given that management here has expressed a desire to put him and fellow rehab vet Kyrie Irving on the same floor with rookie Cooper Flagg? Maybe it's OK if the Mavs like him back.
But short of that vision - which almost seems like an impossible dream and which offers no guarantees of it working?
Maybe liking one another isn't a strong enough reason to stay together.