Will the Mavericks risk a massive contract for an injury-prone star? His Dallas desires clash with his questionable durability and team performance.
DALLAS - What does oft-injured Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis want?
Simply, to have his Dallas cake. And to eat it, too - with $275 million worth of silverware.
On the one hand, word is that A.D. would like to stay in Dallas.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Davis' "preference would be to stay in Dallas ...''
And?
"And,'' MacMahon adds, "to get that extension this summer.''
And there's the on-the-other-hand problem.
There is simply not a health-related track record that justifies that sort of payday for Davis, who turns 33 in March ... while he plays about half the games.
When he does dress out? Dallas recently held a record of 4-13 without him in the lineup (ugh) but with him in the lineup, the Mavs are still just a .500 team.
So the 10 All-Star appearances and even the positive season stats - he’s averaging 20.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field - don't add up to enough.
Really, they don't even justify the $54 million salary he's making now.
The Mavericks - who surely aren't in love with that four-year, $275 million idea (I still insist that one of the reasons Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers a year ago is that new owner Patrick Dumont couldn't believe his eyes at the coming max price tag and refused to pay it) - are therefore trying to move Dallas.
But what other teams want to deal with the durability problem?
What other teams want to pick up that eventual $275 mil tab?
There are rumors that link the likely future Hall of Famer to the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors.
But if they don't want to pay him? Then they don't really want him.
Meanwhile ...
The Mavs haven't shut down the idea of wanting to see rookie sensation Cooper Flagg team up with Kyrie Irving and Davis.
But Irving isn't ready to hit the court yet (due to rehab) ... and he Feb. 5 trade deadline looms.
The worst possible look here: Dallas gives up Luka to get Anthony Davis ... and then gets very little true value out of A.D.