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Perhaps no player will generate more attention than Anthony Davis leading up to the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, but the Dallas Mavericks reportedly might not get as much back in return as one might assume for a 10-time All-Star.
“Davis’ theoretical trade value has changed materially when you consult league executives,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Thursday. “He immediately got hurt in Dallas and played only nine games after the trade. Davis needed eye surgery that limited his offseason work, and he came into the season at less than top form. He was quickly injured again and has missed 15 of 25 games this season.”
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon also reported on the situation and noted head coach Jason Kidd and interim co-general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley figure to lead the way on the trade discussions since Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont is not expected to decide on a permanent head of basketball operations until the offseason.
This comes after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are all seen as potential suitors for Davis. Charania also reported the Mavericks will look into trading Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell during what may be something of a reset period.
According to the Detroit Free Press‘ Omari Sankofa II, the Pistons “haven’t had talks with the Mavericks” to this point.
The Mavericks are just 9-16 on the season and don’t seem to be legitimate contenders given their injury concerns with Davis and Kyrie Irving. They also don’t control their draft after 2026 until 2031, meaning trading some of the veterans could help them get draft assets back and establish a more consistent timeline of players around rookie Cooper Flagg.
But there is risk to the entire Davis situation.
On the one hand, him playing more games is an opportunity to showcase he can still be a superstar player in the NBA and dramatically alter a contender’s ceiling. Eastern Conference teams such as Detroit, Atlanta and Toronto may be a star big man away from a deep playoff run and perhaps more willing to give up something significant in return if Davis plays well between now and February.
However, more playing time also means more chances at injuries.
Health has always been a concern for Davis, who has reached the 70-game mark just once since the 2017-18 season. He appeared in 51 games last season and has been sidelined at times in 2025-26.
That he turns 33 years old in March likely won’t alleviate those concerns either.
At his best, Davis is someone who can anchor the interior defense, score from all over the floor and post double-doubles whenever he steps on the floor. But there are still plenty of question marks surrounding him, which means the entire situation could remain fluid until he is ultimately dealt.