The Dallas Mavericks find themselves at a crossroads as they seek to avoid the minefield that is Anthony Davis. Davis’ five games played this season due to a calf strain has been the most upsetting season in recent memory. He’s had a left abductor strain and has continually battled calf issues since his return. As the Mavericks assess their roster and future, the front office must consider whether to trade Davis, wait for free agency, or explore other options.
It’s been a rollercoaster season for Davis, who’s played just 15 games since coming back from injury. Even through all of those obstacles, he had tremendous success a year ago in Los Angeles. During the 2023-24 season, he appeared in the most games of his professional career. His exceptional all-around performance during the season resulted in him being named to the All-NBA and All-Defensive 1st team. Even so, his play deserves skepticism – especially when it comes to his shooting. Since the 2020 postseason, Davis has played .708 ball while bricking threes. He’s converted just 26% of his tries — easily the lowest rate among every player with 400 or more attempts over that span.
With a massive contract that will pay him $48.8 million, Davis is without question the bedrock of the Mavericks’ lineup. His influence, both on the pitch and in the locker room, is key to the team’s future plans. Conversations behind the scenes in the front office have shown that they’re not just quit on his play. Beyond that, they’re weighing how he fits into the team’s long-term plans, particularly next to fellow superstar Kyrie Irving.
“While you can point to Davis as a top-20 player in Los Angeles, it is a $175 million gamble and perhaps more if you trade for him,” noted a Western Conference executive. Executives are too scared to even speak on the record about the prospect of trading Davis. They would like him to be healthy for a long time before seeing him.
The violation of the ongoing issue is exacerbated by Davis’ current role with the Mavericks. Because of the aforementioned depth at the team’s center spot, he has been forced to play out of position. The real challenge is building productive lineups that can create the necessary spacing so crucial to success in today’s NBA. Observers have expressed skepticism about the possibility of successful combinations involving Davis alongside players like Flagg and either Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford.
As Dallas continues weighing its possibilities, there are even more long-term things to consider for the team. The Mavericks have their own 2026 first-round pick, plus one from the Lakers in 2029. They’re limited on cash transactions and contract aggregations by salary cap ramifications. The front office would likely come under increased constriction as well. How effective interim General Managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are at pushing through much-needed roster changes will be key.
The unknown of where Dallas would fall in the draft order if the season were to end today only muddies that equation further. If they find themselves in the lottery again, evaluations of this year’s draft class may not yield clear insights in the immediate future as teams continue to assess their rosters.
“You have to look at what he did the prior two seasons with the Lakers, his short tenure in Dallas and then the future,” an Eastern Conference executive emphasized. That last point of view is essential, because that’s how the Mavericks need to consider their moves with Davis.
As conversations continue behind-the-scenes, Dallas will ultimately have to be judged largely on Davis’ legacy. While that’s good, it’s just as important to judge what his effect will be on their roster building from here on out. It will prove a crucial turning point in the Mavericks fight to stay competitive long-term. They have a number of different avenues they can explore, whether it’s trading for more perimeter talent or shifting their philosophy to accommodate Davis more in their system.
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