The clock is officially ticking.
There are two weeks left until the NBA’s annual trade deadline, the frenetic midway point when teams either make modest or bold moves to improve their chances or commit to the roster they have for the rest of the season.
The Atlanta Hawks kicked off trade season by sending longtime point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert on Jan. 9, which set the stage for a lot of activity leading up to Feb. 5.
Several notable All-Stars have been floated as potential candidates on the move, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant and Mavericks big man Anthony Davis.
Mavericks
The Mavericks are on pace to win 30 games, which doesn’t bode well for their playoff chances, so it’s possible the reimagined front office could seek to make some changes.
With the deadline rapidly approaching, here’s a look at some of the players on the roster who could be valuable enough to include in a trade:
Anthony Davis
All eyes have been on Davis’ future with the Mavericks since Nico Harrison was removed from his post as general manager. His situation is complicated for multiple reasons.
Let’s start with the obvious. He’s sidelined until the end of February with a left hand sprain, which could reduce his trade value. Davis could return before the end of the season, but Dallas could be on the outside of the Play-In Tournament and trying to position itself for the best possible outcome in this year’s NBA draft.
The Mavericks will need to decide over the next two weeks if they wish to see the trio of Davis, Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving on the court, because if not, it’s probably best to part ways amicably and reap the most they can for the 10-time All-Star.
Dante Exum
Exum’s time in Dallas once represented the rejuvenation of his career, but this season was over for the veteran point guard before it even started. Instead of sharing point guard responsibilities, he underwent season-ending knee surgery, which makes him a candidate to be traded. His $3.3 million contract could be salary filler if need be.
Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) attempts to make a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Dallas.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
Daniel Gafford
An injury on the first day of training camp altered the trajectory of Gafford’s second full season with Dallas. He’s played in 29 of 44 games, but his two-way skill set as an agile lob threat and fierce rim protector could be valuable to rival teams.
Gafford could be the Mavericks’ second-best trade asset behind Davis, but if they choose to move on from their All-Star big man, they will need a viable option at center alongside Dereck Lively II, who is out the rest of the season after foot surgery.
Jaden Hardy
The Mavericks have six point guards on their roster and if healthy, Hardy falls on the back end of that list. He’s a nontraditional point guard who excels more off the ball and is the fourth-best 3-point shooter on the team behind Max Christie, Klay Thompson and Ryan Nembhard.
Hardy averages only 12.3 minutes per game, and despite two starts in the last four games, he’s behind Brandon Williams and Nembhard on the depth chart. Even Flagg has had more reps as the lead initiator. Perhaps a new environment could give Hardy a chance to gain meaningful minutes.
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) keeps the ball away from Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Dallas.
Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer
Naji Marshall
Marshall has played the best basketball of his career in Dallas with an expanded opportunity to showcase his offensive skills. The sixth-year forward has outperformed his contract of three years and $27 million, which is team-friendly enough to trade.
Contenders would value Marshall’s two-way skill set. His reliable floater and ability to initiate offense serves the Mavericks well as they try to maintain the increased pace that has led to their recent offensive surge. It’s possible he’s proven himself as a good fit next to Flagg who aligns with the team’s future plans.
Caleb Martin
Martin was acquired at last season’s deadline in a trade for former Mavericks guard Quentin Grimes. Statistically, he’s having the worst season of his career with a career-low 2.5 points and a 3-point shooting clip of 21.7%, but he’s done an impressive job over the last week filling in for Flagg and P.J. Washington, especially from a defensive standpoint. He’s had nine of his 23 steals this season over the last four games, which proves he’s still capable of being an impact player when healthy.
Related
D’Angelo Russell
It’s quite obvious why Russell is on this list. The Mavericks’ lone free agent signing in the offseason was initially perceived as the starting point guard with Irving recovering from ACL surgery. That’s far from the case as Russell has only started three games and played in 26 of 44. He has not played in 11 games, despite being active.
It’s unclear what the market is for Russell, but perhaps he could be attached to a trade that would benefit from including his $5.6 million contract that includes a player option for next season.
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) smiles looking at the crowd during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Dallas.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
Klay Thompson
Any contending team would benefit from having one of the best shooters in NBA history on its roster. He’s in the twilight of his career, but he’s still a threat from beyond the arc, shooting 38% from three.
The circumstances are not what he envisioned when he joined the team in 2024, but the veteran has displayed an impressive form of leadership in his second full season in Dallas. He serves as a mentor for the Mavericks’ younger players and appears happy, especially as he reached three career milestones this month.
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.