One of the biggest names that has been floated around in trade rumors in the weeks leading up to the deadline is Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis. Davis recently suffered a set-back with a hand injury, and his status moving forward is uncertain. But that hasn’t deterred opposing teams from registering trade interest, nor has it kept the Mavericks from engaging in trade talks, as per NBA insider Marc Stein.
Where Anthony Davis trade talks could fall apart leading up to the deadline, per Stein, is that Mavericks not receiving an offer they feel is suitable for the All-Star big man. The Mavericks are reportedly in no rush to trade Davis, and could very well hold on to him through the deadline. Should they choose to do so, they could eventually revisit a Davis trade in the offseason.
Davis still has another year left on his current deal, and then a player option for the 2027-28 season. There has been no concrete movement regarding a potential contract extension.
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The 2026 NBA Draft could potentially be a major one for the Mavericks, as it is the last time they own their first-round pick until 2031. Trying to get the best possible lottery odds this season is a legitimate pathway for the Mavericks, which is why Stein suggests that if the team holds on to Davis past the deadline, they could ultimately decide not to activate him amid his return from injury.
Davis sustained his latest injury during the team’s game against the Utah Jazz last week, and has been sidelined since. Although initial reports suggested that Davis would need surgery and would be out for an extended period of time, Davis himself refuted those reports. There is currently no official timeline for his return.
He’s appeared in only 20 games this season, at a little over 31 minutes per game. He’s averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocked shots with splits of 50.6 percent shooting from the field, 27 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 72.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.