With the team holding the 13th spot in the Western Conference with a 12-23 record, it seems highly unlikely but still possible for the Dallas Mavericks to make the playoffs.
That said, pundits are expecting the front office to focus on building their future and surround their young star, Cooper Flagg, with the right pieces. And they believe it starts with making a move before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5 that involves star center Anthony Davis.
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However, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon has expressed his skepticism about the possibility of that happening. He believes several factors, including Davis’ health and trade value, will make it difficult for co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, as well as Dallas owner Patrick Dumont, to make the best move for the team.
“You’ve got this black cloud of what you gave up to get Anthony Davis,” MacMahon said on the “Howdy Partners” podcast. “It is a dangerous assumption to make that Anthony Davis will be traded before the deadline. I think it’s a coin flip, and I’m probably taking tails he stays.”
The black cloud of the Luka-AD trade
On Feb. 1, 2025, the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Davis. Although they still received a 10-time NBA All-Star, four All-NBA and five All-Defensive team member in Davis, it was hard to get over what the city lost with the Slovenian gone.
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Now that Davis is on the trading block, the front office is burdened with a lot of pressure not to screw up a second time.
The first thing the analyst pointed out is Davis’ recurring health and durability issues. He has suffered several injuries this season, limiting him to only 17 games.
MacMahon also added that his contract extension eligibility could be a challenge, with Davis prioritizing a four-year extension with the Mavericks worth $275 million or seeking a new contract with his new team if he is traded.
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“They’re not going to make that’s going to look good on paper. There’s this pressure to try to not make the worst trade in NBA history look that bad,” he said. “He just doesn’t have the kind of value where you’re going to be able to get a rising young player and a package of picks.”
The perfect trade
Despite MacMahon’s skepticism, it is undeniable that Davis is one of the hottest players in the trade market right now, with averages of 20.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. And with the right offer, the Mavs are willing to listen.
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NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed this on the “DLLS Mavs” Podcast.
“The Mavs are not discouraging anyone’s calls. They are open for business,” he said.
Early in December, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that among the potential suitors for Davis are the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors.
According to Chris Haynes, the Hawks are “very intrigued” about getting Davis, but said that the deal would not involve Trae Young. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that the Mavs contacted the Golden State Warriors about trading Davis in exchange for a young talent, like Jonathan Kuminga.
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Amid these trade scenarios, MacMahon laid out his ideal trade package for Davis.
“The perfect trade for the mavericks to me is a lot of expiring salary, a promising young player, and a pick,” he said. “But even that’s not winning the press conference.”
The writing is on the wall that the Mavericks are looking to start building the foundation of their franchise’s future — and it seems that they are looking to do it without Davis. All we can do now is wait and see how this pans out and where AD lands.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.