Does Anthony Davis still have a place on the Mavs’ roster, or is it time to say goodbye?
Like every other team this Offseason, the Dallas Mavericks will tweak their roster in an effort to put the best product on the floor each night. Unlike every other team, the Mavs hold the #1 Pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and will all but certainly be selecting Duke phenom Cooper Flagg. With question marks surrounding how long Kyrie Irving will be rehabbing, a thin guard rotation and a glut of front court players, Dallas has some decisions to make as they aim to both win now and responsibly move toward a future led by Flagg.
The first two parts of this series looked at Spencer Dinwiddie and P.J. Washington. This installment will take a look at Anthony Davis. Davis received an in-depth look by Mavs Moneyball’s Sudarshan Venkatraman, but following the theme of this series, we’ll look at whether the Mavs are best served to stick with Davis (“Love Him”) or move him out of Dallas (“Leave Him”) and usher in the Flagg era immediately.
Season Recap
Anthony Davis landed in Dallas as part of the controversial Luka Doncic trade in February, debuting from injury shortly after the move. During his time with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Mavericks this season, he averaged 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The 6’10” 32-year-old almost instantly became the best player on the roster after both the departure of Doncic and subsequent injury to Irving. Davis shot 51.6% from the floor but only 28.2% from three, a shot that has yet to round into reliable form for the nine-time All-Star. Despite criticism from some that he does not always show up in the biggest moments, Davis dropped 40 points in the Play In loss to the Memphis Grizzlies that ended the season.
Contract Status
Davis is set to make $54 million next season, followed by $58 million in 2026-2027 before needing to ponder a player option worth nearly $63 million in 2027-2028.
How He Fits
Davis is easily the best player on the team and an all-time great. Followed to some degree by a narrative of being too injury prone to be a number one option, Davis has made five All-Defensive Teams, five All-NBA Teams and has an NBA Championship and two Olympic Gold Medals. He is a major asset whether it be on the court for Dallas, or as the key figure in a trade. For a team building itself around defense, Davis is the epitome of “fit.” Mavs’ GM Nico Harrison explained that he only spoke to LA for Doncic, because Davis was the specific player he wanted. If he remains on the roster, it will be interesting to see how well he holds up until Irving returns from injury. Davis would certainly be the featured player, giving him the opportunity to play big minutes and do big things, but (like most players) he would surely be better served with a legit star next to him and that won’t happen until at least January when Irving returns (or a separate trade is made). There is another elephant in the room as well. After winning the Draft Lotto, the Mavs have indicated they will be drafting Flagg. The Mavericks will have to decide when he takes the reigns and that could impact Davis’ fit with the team. Assuming Davis’ workload is well-managed and the Mavs take advantage of a veteran club to take pressure off Flagg, Davis is the best player on the roster and gives the Mavs the best chance of getting wins based on the current roster situation.
Final Verdict – Leave Him
Maybe not the most expected verdict following the lead-in, but the likelihood of Davis being traded is virtually zero percent, so this verdict is about as ethereal as it can get regardless. Still, it’s worth considering what a trade could bring, as those assets are likely significant. You either want the team to tear it down and start building around Flagg right now, or you want to go for a championship with Irving and Davis while transitioning to Flagg thereafter. I’m personally torn. I see great appeal in having the best of both worlds and I appreciate how Davis has handled himself since being traded to Dallas (playing through injury, telling fans he was going to do his best to assuage the hard feelings experienced from the Doncic trade, etc.). I’m also probably a bit more bullish than some that this team can make noise when fully healthy. Having said all that, Davis’ value will probably never be higher. For a team that is already capped-strapped and with limited draft assets in the coming years, Davis represents the best chance to get a haul in terms of picks, players and flexibility. Rather than take the easy road to “Love Him” when it’s likely he is going nowhere in the first place, it’s worth contemplating what could be if he is moved, especially for those that want to fully move on to the Cooper Flagg era.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.