The Dallas Mavericks have long been rumored to be shopping Anthony Davis on the trade market, although interest in his services hasn't been at a premium, until now.
The Dallas Mavericks solely belong to Cooper Flagg at this point, even as they found some degree of success pairing their rookie with Anthony Davis. However, Davis' seniority and injury history make building a young team around him a nearly impossible task.
As a result, the Mavericks have been rumored to be shopping Davis on the trade market. Despite his limited availability and history of refusing to play out of position, there seems to be some interest around the league in his services.
"The Warriors are looking for a big man, rim-running big man, protect the paint, lob threat," said insider Chris Haynes. "I was told they're contemplating making a case to acquire Anthony Davis as well."
The Golden State Warriors are desperate to capitalize on whatever remains of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler's primes, and Davis would be the perfect fit. The Warriors boast six first-round picks that they can trade or swap, and Dallas would certainly prefer to add picks over players.
"I was told that Dallas was not that fascinated with what Golden State has on its books," Haynes added. "And so if the Golden State Warriors did really want to make a true play at Anthony Davis, they would likely have to acquire some more assets or involve another team."
The Warriors, it seems, are not the only team interested in adding Davis. As the Atlanta Hawks flounder, they could be roped into a deal as well. Keep in mind, the Hawks owe their 2026 pick to the San Antonio Spurs, so them tanking away their season doesn't make sense.
Along with the Atlanta Hawks, the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and Toronto Raptors have all been listed as possible Eastern Conference landing spots for Davis.
Dallas Mavericks Could Start a Bidding War
The Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference, and swapping Jalen Duren for a player known as "Street Clothes" doesn't make much sense. The Warriors, Hawks, Bulls, and Raptors, meanwhile, could all use Davis to bolster their frontcourt and make a playoff push.
The Warriors, Bulls, and Raptors have ample draft picks, and Chicago has expiring contracts to help match salaries. The Hawks, meanwhile, could offer Trae Young, who is the kind of facilitator Flagg would excel next to long-term. He's an upgrade over the aging Kyrie Irving, and Flagg, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall, and PJ Washington could cover for his defensive limitations, provided all of them are healthy.
The Mavericks entered the season with very limited assets to build around Flagg, although as teams get desperate, Davis is expected to draw interest.
In 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers sent four talented youngsters and three picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Davis, and won a title the next season. His value is no longer that high, although with a handful of teams desperate to make a move to improve their frontcourt, the Mavericks could undo some damage from the Luka Doncic trade and position themselves for plenty of success around Flagg as he continues to develop.