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Zach Lowe is suggesting that the Milwaukee Bucks could be “desperate” enough to make a play for Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
That feels accurate. The Bucks are bereft of future assets. If they traded even a single first-round pick, that would be indicative of desperation. Could they even be so desperate?
You bet. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains an in-prime MVP candidate. Trading him would be the franchise’s last resort. It’s not difficult to imagine that pairing him with Davis would be a more attractive proposition for a small-market team.
Here’s the best deal they could realistically offer the Mavs.
Milwaukee Bucks Land Anthony Davis in NBA Trade Proposal
Dallas Mavericks Receive:
Milwaukee Bucks Receive:
- Anthony Davis
Why The Dallas Mavericks Do the Deal
The Mavericks don’t do this deal to acquire Turner or Kuzma. They’ll be looking at each as additional trade chips. Though Turner has been somewhat disappointing in Milwaukee, he’ll still have a robust market as a floor spacing big man who offers some rim protection.
Still, Dallas is primarily in this deal for that juicy 2032 first-rounder. If the writing is on the wall for the Bucks now, where will they be six years from now? This pick should be among the most valuable trade chips in the NBA as soon as the Mavericks acquire it.
Above all else, the Mavericks should be looking to the future. With Cooper Flagg in hand, they need to shape the roster in his image. Once they re-route Turner and Kuzma, they’ll be in a far better position moving forward.
It doesn’t hurt the Mavericks to avoid paying Davis a contract extension that he’ll be eligible to sign in August, while also shedding nearly $6.4 million in spending this season.
What type of position does the deal leave Milwaukee in?
Why The Milwaukee Bucks Do the Deal
If the Mavericks are lucky, Flagg will one day be nearly as good as Antetokounmpo. That’s the point: The Bucks already have Antetokounmpo.
Sure, the past few years have been disappointing, and 2025-26 has been no exception. The Bucks can still justify making a win-now play. That’s always true when you have an MVP-caliber player on the roster.
Antetokounmpo and Davis could be the most dominant defensive duo in the NBA. They’re not a perfect fit on offense, but they should be able to bludgeon opponents with sheer physicality.
If this works, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Milwaukee in the NBA Finals again.
Bigger Picture
You may have expected to see Ryan Rollins in this deal. Think again. The Bucks would be going too far to include their lone breakout young player in a Davis deal.
Moreover, Rollins re-signed with the Bucks using Bird Rights, meaning he can’t be moved until January 15th. It’s possible that the Bucks would want to make this deal before the deadline so they’d have time to re-route Turner and Kuzma.
Dallas shouldn’t expect much more than this for Davis. He’s among the most injury-prone players in the NBA, and his value has taken a hit:
That’s exactly why this would feel like a desperation move for the Bucks.