Anthony Davis remains one of the most compelling trade chips the Dallas Mavericks could wield, especially as they weigh their future and potentially pivot toward a youth‑and‑picks build. While the Mavericks are publicly testing the waters, several trade‑idea frameworks have emerged, offering a glimpse of where he might land and what Dallas could realistically demand in return.
Anthony Davis Trade: Top Trade Destinations and Scenarios
What NBC Sports Is Saying: High Risk, Selective Market
NBC Sports points out that although there is reported interest in Davis, turning that into a trade won’t be easy. According to their sources, teams like the Knicks, Warriors, Bulls, and Kings have been mentioned — but constructing a deal is complicated by Davis’s massive salary, his injury concerns, and Dallas’ own financial situation.
NBC stresses a few key conditions: First, Davis must prove he’s healthy, and not just for a handful of games — sustained productivity through December and January is reportedly critical to generate serious suitors. Second, any potential acquiring team would likely need financial flexibility to absorb his contract. NBC argues there’s a “small market” of teams that are both willing and able to make that gamble.
The Ringer’s Bold Trade Packages: Bulls or Raptors Lead the Way
The Ringer went deep, laying out five potential suitors for Davis, but two of the most intriguing are the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.
- Chicago Bulls Deal: According to The Ringer, the Mavericks could send Davis and D’Angelo Russell to Chicago. In return, the Mavericks would acquire Nikola Vucević, Kevin Huerter, Coby White, and Chicago’s unprotected 2029 first-round pick. This makes sense for Dallas both strategically and financially — the package would free them from much of Davis’s massive contract while giving them a mix of role players and long-term draft flexibility.
- Toronto Raptors Deal: Another Ringer scenario imagines the Raptors trading RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and two future first‑round picks to get Davis. From Toronto’s perspective, acquiring Davis would dramatically boost their interior defense and give the team a true anchor down low. For Dallas, it’s a trade that leverages solid young talent along with draft capital, giving them options for a retool or partial rebuild.
SportsKeeda’s Spurs Scenario: Pairing Davis With Wembanyama
SportsKeeda offers a very interesting and somewhat daring mock trade involving the San Antonio Spurs. In this vision, the Spurs land Davis to form a frontcourt with Victor Wembanyama, creating a potentially dominant defensive duo.
The proposed package from the Spurs to Dallas would include:
This deal offers Dallas not just young, emerging talent, but one of the highest-value draft assets available. If Dallas is genuinely pivoting toward a new era around Cooper Flagg, this kind of return would be tempting. Swapping an aging, often-injured star for a haul that could set up long-term competitiveness.
The Last Word
In the end, trading Anthony Davis could mark a turning point for the Mavericks. The risk is real, Davis’ injury history and massive contract remain major obstacles. However, the upside is equally significant: young talent, high-value picks, and the financial flexibility to build around Cooper Flagg’s future. If Dallas ultimately tests the market, their asking price won’t just be about shedding salary, but reshaping the team’s identity. And yet, as Mark Cuban has publicly affirmed, the franchise’s competitive ambitions still loom large. Whether they hold or trade, the next move will not define this season, but the long-term direction of the Mavericks.
Featured Image: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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