Anthony Davis is no stranger to NBA trade rumors, but it feels like his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks will be particularly abrupt.

Seriously. Davis just landed in Dallas, and the rumors are already flying. That’s typically not a good sign of a player’s long-term viability with an organization.

It’s not (entirely) Davis’ fault. Dallas’ decision to acquire him was controversial in the first place. Once they got lucky enough to land Cooper Flagg in the draft, his time in the Lone Star State was marked.

That said, Davis has still been productive when available. He has averaged 20.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 18 games this season. The Mavericks are 9-9 in games Davis has played, a stark contrast to their 4-14 record without him.

Even so, the broader context is difficult to ignore. Entering Tuesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings, Dallas sits at 13-23, ranking 12th in the Western Conference and trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by 2.5 games for the final play-in spot. For a franchise that took a massive swing by acquiring Davis, the margin for error is already thin.

Here’s a deal that has him landing up north.

Toronto Raptors Land Anthony Davis in NBA Trade Proposal

Toronto Raptors Receive:

Dallas Mavericks receive:

Golden State Warriors Receive

Why the Toronto Raptors Do the Deal

The Raptors have a rich history of acquiring a superstar at a buy-low cost and succeeding. OK, fine. They did it once. Could they try to capture lightning in a bottle again, ala the Kawhi Leonard deal?

That’s not to say Davis would lead them to an NBA title. That said, don’t rule it out. The Raptors have been surprisingly competitive in 2025-26. They’ve constructed a roster full of positionally large players who deliver on both ends of the floor. Davis fits the mold.

They shouldn’t miss Poeltl too badly with Davis ready to replace him. They may miss Barrett’s production, but that’s the cost of doing business. The Raptors are landing a player who’s not too far removed from superstar status, and only giving up a single heavily protected pick.

Should the Mavericks accept that return for Davis?

Why the Dallas Mavericks Do the Deal

Well, here’s the unfortunate flip side with Davis: He is removed from superstar status.

Above all else, relentless durability concerns have hurt his trade value. Yet, even Davis’ production feels muted in 2025-26. His 3.2 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) is solid, but far from the elite marks he used to post with the Pelicans and Lakers.

So, he’s a distressed asset. At this point, a smattering of young players and one pick ought to suffice for Dallas. Kuminga is the centerpiece here, but Agbaji is a solid young role player as well. Otherwise, Dallas could look to reroute Barrett and Poeltl for additional draft capital.

Should the Warriors send them their centerpiece?

Why the Golden State Warriors Do the Deal

It’s hard to say what the Warriors’ long-term plans are. This feels like a dynasty that’s dying no matter what. Should they take a last gasp?

Here’s an argument: Why not? The Warriors won’t trade Stephen Curry. He will retire in the Bay, as he should. So long as that’s true, why not put a competitive product on the floor?

This deal makes Golden State better right now. Gafford is the rim-protecting, rim-running presence they’ve been missing. It won’t be difficult for Thompson to pick up where he left off and slot into Hield’s offensive role. It’s been some time since it felt like this team believed in Kuminga, so why not upgrade the roster at his expense?

By now, he’s no stranger to trade rumors.

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