The Dallas Mavericks are evaluating Anthony Davis’ trade value as the February 5 NBA deadline nears, sources told ESPN. Davis, 32, is sidelined with a hand injury and won’t return until late February, limiting his availability and affecting his market value.
Davis is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 20 games this season while starting all contests for the Mavericks. Cooper Flagg has emerged as the team’s leader, averaging 19.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Dallas sits 12th in the Western Conference at 15-25, 18.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sources told ESPN that Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, has encouraged the Mavericks to explore a trade ahead of the deadline, citing contract considerations. The forward’s long-term extension this offseason has added urgency to discussions.
Dallas is considering multiple options, including trading Davis for draft assets, young talent, or expiring contracts. League sources note that a trade could also free salary cap space, allowing the Mavericks to rebuild around Flagg and potentially Irving.
The Hawks and Raptors have emerged as potential trade partners. Atlanta, which recently acquired CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in a Trae Young trade, has flexibility to absorb Davis’ contract. Toronto, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference at 25-17, is exploring veteran additions to strengthen its playoff push.
Executives around the league say Dallas could also wait until the summer to move Davis, allowing the franchise to assess player performance and financial flexibility before committing. The team is projected to be nearly $400 million in combined payroll and luxury taxes next season, making cap management a priority.
Davis’ injuries have shifted the calculus for Dallas. “The cost is most certainly going to be lower for the Mavs than it was even a month ago when they were hedging that Davis would rack up games and improve his value,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said. Recent setbacks, including a late-December groin issue, further complicate his trade value.
Management has stressed they will not move Davis unless the return meets their threshold for young talent, draft compensation, and financial flexibility. For now, the Mavericks are keeping their options open while evaluating how best to build around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
