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The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks have shown the most interest in a trade for Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Stein cautioned, however, he’s “not hearing much optimism at the moment that Atlanta can get anywhere near a package that would tempt Dallas.” On the Raptors, how aggressive they are closer to the Feb. 5 trade deadline will hinge on their place in the Eastern Conference standings.
In general, Stein reported the Mavs are placing a high price tag on Davis.
“Sources say Dallas, furthermore, is not at all interested in just shedding Davis’ contract, which is essentially the same deal as [Giannis] Antetokounmpo’s in Milwaukee,” he said. “The Mavericks have maintained to date that they would only be willing to part with the centerpiece of their infamous [Luka] Doncić deal last February if the trade brings back a return of real consequence.”
Not surprisingly, Stein added that “there doesn’t seem to be much of a market” for the 10-time All-Star.
Dallas loses a lot of leverage if there’s a general sense the front office wants to trade Davis and is willing to do so at minimal cost. But the 32-year-old’s value simply isn’t that high, at least relative to his on-court resume, and his salary ($54.1 million) is a complicating factor.
With the Hawks, for example, the finances of an AD trade would require the inclusion of Trae Young or Kristaps Porziņģis. The Mavs still have Kyrie Irving under contract, eliminating the need for Young, while Porziņģis isn’t a major difference-maker on his own on top of having a long injury record.
The Raptors are in a similar position in that they don’t have a lot of tradable contracts or trade chips who’d help Dallas compete right now. Stein also reported Toronto is hopeful of holding onto veteran center Jakob Poeltl, who would be a great fit on the Mavs after Dereck Lively II was lost for the season.
At 10-17, the Mavericks are 12th in the Western Conference, though they trail the Utah Jazz by only one game for the final play-in berth. Should Dallas fall further out of the playoff picture, perhaps the organization’s stance on an AD trade shifts a bit.