What is Anthony Davis' Future With Mavs? Latest Rumors After Nico Harrison's Firing

Following the Dallas Mavericks' firing of general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, many are wondering about star big man Anthony Davis' future with the franchise.

Davis, who headlined the return package in last season's shocking trade that sent star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, has long been known to have a close relationship with Harrison that dates back to before either of them was even in the NBA. Davis signed with Nike when Harrison was a high-ranking executive in the company, and Harrison touted his defensive acumen as a key reason for the trade at last season's deadline.

Now that Harrison is gone, even more changes could be coming to Dallas. The team ranks 14th in the Western Conference with a 3-8 record, and Davis has been sidelined for the past six games with a calf injury.

However, NBA insider Marc Stein suggested that the 32-year-old could be safe, for now, as team owner Patrick Dumont tries to lead the franchise in a new direction.

"As for what Harrison's departure will mean for Davis' future in Dallas, sources say that Davis' agent Rich Paul has established a strong relationship with Dumont since February's trade," Stein stated. "They are in regular contact."

Still, if the Mavs' struggles continue, the team could explore the possibility of tearing things down and rebuilding for the future. Davis would be Dallas' biggest trade chip, and his strong relationship with the organization could allow him to dictate his destination.

"You don't go two timelines anymore," an NBA executive told ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "You say, 'We're going to take what we can get [for Davis].' At this point, I'm not sure what they can get."

The onus will be on Mavs head coach Jason Kidd to try to right the ship following Harrison's firing, and Stein added that Dumont is "expected to lean heavily on" the Hall of Famer.

Perhaps it would be best to continue building around Davis, as trading the player who was supposed to fill the void left by Doncic could reignite some ill feelings within the Mavs' downtrodden fan base.