For the Mavericks, the 2025-26 season is packed with multiple layers, and often, it appears that the organization is running at cross purposes, against itself. The team wants to be good and is working off of a trade made last spring that brought in Anthony Davis and sent out face of the franchise Luka Doncic. That was a win-now deal.
At the same time, there is Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, and still only 18 years old. The Mavericks have two tracks working here—the one in which they are a contender now and need to win as much as possible, the track that was laid by the Doncic-Davis trade made by GM Nico Harrison. And there’s the Flagg track, which sees the Mavericks needing to build for the future, even if that means taking some lumps in the short term to bolster their draft position next offseason.
With Harrison having been let go by the Mavs, there is increasing momentum toward following the second track—trading away the oft-injured Davis now in hopes of adding picks and building up a bigger trove of young assets.
ESPN Projects Anthony Davis Trades
At ESPN, speculation on Davis’s future got to such a point that the site’s experts put together a slew of potential trades for Davis, who has played only 19 career games for the Mavericks because of injuries to his quad and calf.
The details of the trades are interesting, of course, but the more interesting aspect for the Mavericks is the motivation for making a trade of Davis now, when he is signed for this season and next, plus has a player option in 2027-28.
It might appear the Mavericks have time to make a decision on Davis, who is averaging 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds this year, on 52.3% shooting when healthy. But that last bit—when healthy—carries a lot of weight for Davis.
GettyFormer Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison traded for Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis Trade Value Could Drop With Injury
That’s why the Mavericks need to get Davis on the trade market sooner than later. It’s doubtful that the team will want to pay him a max extension, and if that’s the case, the clock is ticking.
As ESPN insider Bobby Marks, a former NBA executive, wrote:
“Davis, whose short stay in Dallas has been filled with injuries, is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension on Aug. 6 that would pay him $76 million at age 37. Without an extension, Davis could decline his $62.8 million player option and hit unrestricted free agency in summer 2027.
“If the Mavericks are not open to extending Davis, is it best to trade him before the deadline or wait until this offseason when his value could increase? While waiting until the summer could create more interest, there is the massive risk of Davis lowering his trade value if another injury happens.”
Mavericks Balancing Risks
That’s a risk the Mavericks can’t afford to take. Anthony Davis is more than just an aging star with an injury problem for Dallas—he is the main return in the Doncic trade, and the franchise can’t afford to have the main return for Doncic be a guy they have to give away this summer because he can’t stay healthy.
Another site insider, Tim MacMahon, wrote, “The Mavs’ front office is expected to work in conjunction with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who represents Davis. The fact that Davis is eligible for a contract extension this summer further complicates the potential trade market for him.”
But the market is now shaping up, and it is only going to get more complicated. Striking sooner rather than later on a Davis trade makes some sense in Dallas.
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