The Dallas Mavericks have long been rumored to be shopping Anthony Davis on the NBA trade market, although the superstar seems to be just fine in Dallas.
For much of the 2025-26 NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks have been expected to deal away Anthony Davis. After all, he's injury-prone, aging, and doesn't fit the Mavericks' rebuilding timeline.
That doesn't exactly scream "blockbuster haul" in return, but in order to go all-in on the Cooper Flagg-led future, the Mavericks might have to deal Davis away.
However, recent reports suggest that Davis is perfectly happy in Dallas and wants to remain with the Mavericks long-term. In August, he is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension. Will the Mavericks offer him that much? Doubtful, but that doesn't seem to matter much to the superstar.
Anthony Davis Wants to Stay in Dallas
If Davis were to be traded for the second time in as many seasons, it would be an open admission by the Mavericks that they botched the Luka Doncic trade and received virtually nothing of value for the face of the franchise.
Fans, of course, already know that, but any future contract negotiations Davis holds will have that dark cloud hanging over them. Davis is aware that his best chance at restoring his image would be to ride out his current deal as a key player in Dallas.
“My best read on Davis, meanwhile, remains that he would prefer to stay put for the rest of this season after absorbing the shock of last February’s sudden in-season relocation from the Lakers to the Mavericks and a string of injuries since he became a Mav,” NBA insider Marc Stein wrote.
Stein went on to report that interest in Davis was wildly overreported, and his injury ha stalled any trade talks.
“It likewise appears that there is little active momentum toward a Davis deal before the Feb. 5 deadline in the wake of the ligament damage in his left hand sustained on Jan. 8 that is expected to sideline Davis into March," he added. "He turns 33 on March 11.”
Davis' agent, Rich Paul, has long made it clear that he would prefer Davis to be traded, as any team that is willing to bring him in would also offer a maximum contract extension. That means a big payday for Paul, although it also means that Davis' time in Dallas will be defined solely by failure.
For now, there's time for Davis to rewrite that chapter, provided he can find team success with Flagg.