The fallout from the Luka Doncic trade continues to impact the Dallas Mavericks nearly a year later. After the Mavericks fired Nico Harrison, the team will now explore the trade market for Anthony Davis, sources tell ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Acquiring Davis was central to Harrison having traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dallas is expected to see what they can get in return for Davis ahead of this season’s February 5 trade deadline. Davis is expected to miss at least one more week while recovering from a strained calf. Mavs governor Patrick Dumont has taken control of approving when the superstar big man will be able to return to the court.
Davis is on the Dallas books for $54.1 million this season. He has two more seasons and $121.2 million owed to him after this season. In addition, Davis will become extension eligible this coming offseason. With the Mavericks pushing up against the second apron already, they likely want to avoid adding long-term maximum salary for the oft-injured big man.
The Mavericks have a 4-11 record to start the season and are out of the playoff picture. After having aspirations of a playoff berth despite Kyrie Irving’s unknown timeline for return, the Mavericks are pivoting to at least some type of rebuild around Cooper Flagg.