Dallas re-evaluates Anthony Davis' future, exploring trade options amid roster reset and health concerns. A new era begins for the Mavericks.
DALLAS — As speculation swirls around the Dallas Mavericks’ direction following a front-office shakeup and an injury-riddled start, minority owner Mark Cuban is pushing back on the idea that the franchise intends to move on from Anthony Davis.
Cuban told The Athletic on Wednesday the Mavericks will not explore a trade for the 10-time All-Star this season, despite league-wide assumptions that Dallas might seek a reset after firing general manager Nico Harrison on Nov. 11.
“We won’t. We want to try to win,” Cuban said when asked whether he and team governor Patrick Dumont plan to test Davis’ market value.
The comment comes at a moment when Davis’ future in Dallas has been the centerpiece of debate. The Mavericks opened 4-11, the roster has struggled with injuries across the board, and outside observers have questioned whether the franchise would consider dealing Davis in hopes of recouping long-term assets. Dallas does not control its own first-round picks from 2027 through 2030, leaving limited avenues to reshape the roster around 18-year-old Cooper Flagg.
Cuban’s posture also reflects his renewed involvement in franchise operations. Though he sold the majority of his ownership stake to the Adelson family in 2023, he acknowledged he is “an adviser” to Dumont, who holds final decision-making authority.
“I’m here to help him where I can,” Cuban said, while emphasizing that Dumont “makes all the final decisions.”
Cuban’s advisory role remains affirmed, and it was reiterated that Dumont leads basketball decisions, supported by interim co-general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley.
Davis, meanwhile, remains sidelined. The 32-year-old has not played since Oct. 29 due to a left calf strain. He and former GM Harrison hoped for a return earlier this month, but the Mavericks’ medical staff — with Dumont’s approval — overruled the plan out of concern that rushing back could risk a more severe setback, such as an Achilles injury.
The Mavericks announced Sunday that Davis will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days. Leading up to that update, his injury designations often progressed from questionable to out shortly before tip-off. Ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with the New York Knicks, Davis was again ruled out.
This marks the second significant setback since he arrived in Dallas. Davis suffered an adductor strain in his Feb. 8 Mavericks debut, keeping him out for 18 games. Team sources have maintained that the current, more cautious approach is intended to avoid repeating that scenario.
Dallas originally envisioned Davis as the anchor of a defense-first roster, surrounded by P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving. The unexpected No. 1 pick last summer accelerated expectations, adding Flagg to a group the Mavericks believed could contend immediately.
But Irving’s March knee injury, Davis’ extended recovery, and early inconsistency from Flagg have complicated the equation. If Dallas continues to slide and receives compelling offers for Davis near the February deadline, the front office is expected to evaluate them carefully. For now, Cuban insists the focus is on stabilizing the season and winning with the roster as constructed.
Whether the stance holds firm as the deadline approaches — or whether the pressures of a difficult start prompt broader organizational decisions — remains to be seen.