Anthony Davis
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Anthony Davis injured his left hand in the Dallas Mavericks' 116-114 loss to the Utah Jazz on January 8.
Anthony Davis was set to be one of the key dominoes of the NBA trade deadline, but after he suffered ahand injury on Thursday, January 8, theDallas Mavericks’ best-laid plans for dealing the 10-time All-Star went up in flames.
Davis suffered ligament damage to his left hand in the 116-114 loss to theUtah Jazz, and the team is now waiting on a second opinion, which could reveal the center will miss multiple months. It’s unlikely any team will make a significant push to acquire him before February 5 with that recovery timeline.
However,CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn believes having to hold onto Davis at the deadline could be a blessing in disguise for Dallas, as it may work out better for the team in the long run. The focus of a Davis trade would likely have been acquiring as much draft capital as possible, but the Mavericks could still get younger this year and compete next year with the big man on the roster.
Why Anthony Davis’ Injury Could Help Dallas Mavericks
As Quinn put it, there’s a “silver lining” for losing Davis to injury and not being able to trade him.
If the Mavericks continue to lose, their odds of getting into the lottery in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery will increase, allowing them to select another young star out of a loaded class to pair withCooper Flagg.
“The Mavericks don’t control their own first-round picks between 2027 and 2030. That makes the 2026NBA Draft absolutely critical. If Davis is injured enough to miss the rest of the season, that solves the draft issue without a trade,” Quinn wrote.
The more important part for the Mavericks, however, is keeping Davis for next season. The roster is currently constructed with defense as the focal point (whether fans agree with former general manager Nico Harrison’s vision or not, it’s the reality). But with Davis,Daniel Gafford andDereck Lively II all missing significant time this year due to injury, the roster hasn’t been able to play up to its potential. If all of those players andKyrie Irving come back healthy next season, the Mavericks could return to the playoffs in 2027, which would help Flagg in his long-term development.
“A healthy Davis and Irving would be ready to win now. Flagg and the 2026 draft pick would take over later, and probably benefit from the playoff games Davis and Irving could help them reach. A hybrid of Nico Harrison’s deranged vision and the more measured approach most have called for since the Mavericks won last May’s lottery,” Quinn wrote.
Anthony Davis Trade Rumors
If Davis doesn’t have to miss multiple months with his hand injury, the Mavericks’ push to trade him to a contender at the deadline will advance as planned. If he is out for an extended period of time, however, the teams interested in him could shift to those with a longer timeline to compete.
The New Orleans Pelicans are one surprise team mentioned by Quinn, as Davis would pair nicely with rookie centerDerik Queen. New Orleans could offerZion Williamson in a trade, a contract Dallas may be more willing to take a chance on because it isnot fully guaranteed for the next two seasons.
TheCharlotte Hornets could also be interested in Davis. The center would provide a solid defensive presence there and be surrounded by young, talented offensive players inKon Knueppel andBrandon Miller. Charlotte also ownsDallas’ first-round pick in 2027, making them an ideal partner for the Mavericks to recoup draft capital.