Trade Talks for Anthony Davis Heat Up

On Wednesday’s episode of “NBA Countdown,” ESPN insider Shams Charania mentioned that discussions regarding the injured Mavericks star, Anthony Davis, are gaining momentum. The Hawks and Raptors are emerging as the top contenders to acquire him.

“The Mavericks are engaging in fresh trade talks around Davis with several teams expressing interest,” Charania noted. “Atlanta and Toronto are leading the charge. However, it’s clear from my recent conversations that the Mavericks are likely to face a lower asking price compared to a month ago, when they were optimistic that Davis’s value would rise as he started playing more. That value could only increase, actually.”

Currently, Davis, who is 32 years old, is dealing with torn ligaments in his left hand. On Tuesday, he received positive news that he won’t need surgery for the injury.

Still, a series of recent injuries is complicating any plans the Mavericks have for trades. Charania elaborated, saying, “There’s a groin injury from late December and now there’s this hand issue. The Mavericks are at a crossroads.” He posed questions about the team’s future: “Should they stick with a contract that’s nearing expiration? Or consider moving on entirely—possibly cutting Davis’s contract and maybe acquiring a draft pick to start fresh around a player like Cooper Flagg?”

The Hawks have already made a significant trade this season, having sent Trae Young to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert just last week.

Charania proposed another option for Dallas: exploring a collaboration with Kyrie Irving, Davis, and some other players. Unfortunately, Davis is set to be sidelined for about six weeks following his injury during the Mavericks’ recent narrow loss to the Jazz.

Since joining the Mavericks in February through a high-profile trade that involved Luka Doncic heading to the Lakers, Davis has played in just 29 regular-season games. This season, he’s averaging 20.4 points across 20 games.