The NBA trade deadline is less than a month away, and as has been the case for many years, this year’s deadline is anticipated to be one filled with a ton of movement.
That is usually the case in early February, and this year should be no exception. Many stars could be on the move, and at the forefront of it appears to be Dallas Mavericks superstar center, Anthony Davis. Davis appears to be the biggest star on the trade market, and some signs point to Dallas pulling the plug on this short-lived experiment.
Many teams have been linked to the 10-time All-Star and the latest team to be in the mix is struggling Eastern Conference team, the Milwaukee Bucks. Christian Clark and San Amick of The Athletic shared how the Bucks have shown interest in the former No. 1 overall pick.
"League sources say the Milwaukee Bucks (16-20; 11th in the East) are also among the teams that have registered interest in trading for Davis, though a deal appears unlikely. The Bucks have been aggressive in their search for more talent to put alongside superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and expressing interest in Davis falls in line with that pursuit. But their scarce asset base and lack of sizable contracts could limit the attractiveness of a potential trade package."
While rumors of a possible Davis trade have intensified in the last few weeks, Clark and Amick also added that the Mavericks won’t be quick to deal him prior to the deadline.
“The Mavericks are expected to continue to listen to offers on Davis in the coming weeks, but according to team sources, their front office doesn't feel like it must deal Davis before the deadline. The team is interested in seeing Davis and Flagg play alongside Kyrie Irving and hasn't closed the door on the idea of Davis remaining in Dallas long-term.”
There are a lot of factors that go into a possible trade and destination for Davis and his camp. The former Kentucky Wildcat is eligible for an extension in August 2026 and has a player option for the 2027-28 season. It is mightily important for Davis and his camp to land somewhere a contract extension is possible, that is, if he is traded.
The possibility of that happening with the Bucks appears unlikely. For starters, the Bucks do not have the pieces to acquire Davis in a trade. While a Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo pairing would do wonders for Milwaukee and uplift them to an immediate contender, that doesn’t seem realistic as things stand.
Recent reports suggest that Davis would want to stay in Dallas long-term and security. If that is not possible in Dallas, then he and his team will try to find that elsewhere. Davis will turn 33 in March and has a long history of injuries, it’s unclear what team will take a chance on him considering these factors.
Newsweek