Trae Young
Getty
Trae Young led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
The Atlanta Hawks’ pursuit of Anthony Davis has grown more complicated after the latest injury update on the Dallas Mavericks’ All-Star center cast fresh uncertainty over his availability and value.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon, Davis has suffered ligament damage in his left hand — an injury that could sideline him for months and potentially carry into the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
“Depending on second opinion and if surgery is required, Davis could miss a number of months,” Charania reported. “There is a real chance Davis — one of the NBA’s prime trade targets — will be sidelined through the Feb. 5 deadline. And possibly beyond, depending on the need for surgery.”
That medical development has not only dampened trade urgency across the league but has also reinforced why talks between Atlanta and Dallas remain stuck in neutral.
Hawks–Mavericks Talks Lack Traction, per Stein
Dallas Mavericks Anthony Davis v Utah Jazz
GettyAnthony Davis exits early against the Utah Jazz as the Dallas Mavericks face tough decisions ahead of the trade deadline.
Even before the injury, there was little momentum between the Hawks and Mavericks.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday that there is “no meaningful traction” between the two teams on a Davis-centered deal.
“There is no meaningful traction at the moment, league sources say, in trade talks between Atlanta and Dallas on an Anthony Davis swap,” Stein wrote in his Substack newsletter, The Stein Line. “The Mavericks have yet to receive an offer that would budge them into parting with Davis.”
The injury has only widened that gap.
Dallas’ Asking Price Centers on Pelicans Pick
At the heart of the impasse is a future asset Atlanta is reluctant to move: the 2026 New Orleans Pelicans first-round pick.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reported that Dallas has repeatedly attempted to pry that pick from Atlanta, viewing it as essential in any Davis deal.
“I can tell you with certainty that the Mavericks have been trying to pry away that New Orleans Pelicans pick from the Hawks for some time now,” Mannix said on the Open Floor podcast. “That has been on the mind of the Mavericks’ front office for some time now.”
That pick is projected to land in the top three of the 2026 draft — a potentially franchise-altering asset Atlanta views as central to its rebuild.
Hawks Enter Post-Trae Young Rebuild Phase
With Trae Young now gone, the Hawks are reshaping their identity around a younger core led by Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels.
That shift has elevated the importance of draft capital, flexibility and timeline alignment.
Davis, 32, will earn more than $58 million next season and holds a player option worth nearly $63 million for the 2027–28 campaign. Combined with his injury history, that makes him one of the league’s most expensive — and risky — acquisitions.
From Atlanta’s perspective, the cost now outweighs the short-term benefit.
Injury Amplifies Risk Profile
While Davis remains an elite talent when healthy, the latest injury underscores the volatility inherent in betting on his availability.
For a team transitioning into a developmental phase rather than chasing immediate contention, absorbing that risk while surrendering a top-tier pick represents a philosophical gamble.
A healthy Davis would have given the Hawks a two-way star to anchor their frontline alongside Johnson and Okongwu.
Mavericks Maintain Firm Stance
Despite the uncertainty, Dallas has not lowered its price.
Team sources told Stein that the Mavericks would keep Davis beyond the deadline if no deal meets their standards.
That posture suggests Dallas views Davis as a long-term piece, not a distressed asset.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is content to wait.