Mavericks big man Anthony Davis is considered likely to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). According to Charania, a surgical procedure would sideline Davis for multiple months and could essentially end his season.
However, Charania reports in a follow-up tweet that the injury hasn’t resulted in Davis being removed from the trade block. In fact, sources tell ESPN that the Mavericks have reopened trade discussions with multiple teams who hold interest in the 10-time All-Star.
As Charania explains, a team that makes a trade for Davis could aim to get him back in action just before or during the playoffs while also making him part of its plans for 2026/27 and beyond.
Davis sustained the hand injury late in the fourth quarter during Thursday’s loss at Utah. His hand appeared to bend back at an odd angle while defending Utah star Lauri Markkanen on a drive (YouTube link). Reporting on Friday indicated that Davis had sustained ligament damage in the hand and that he was seeking multiple medical opinions as he weighed surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
While Davis was facing an extended absence either way, the expectation was that taking the surgical route would result in a longer-term layoff.
More to come…