Will Anthony Davis Be Traded? Mark Cuban Gives Big Update on Mavs' Plans amid Rumors
There have been some rumblings about the Dallas Mavericks possibly trading Anthony Davis, but minority owner Mark Cuban shut down that speculation on Wednesday.
"We won't. We want to try to win," Cuban said in an email when asked about finding a trade for Davis, per The Athletic's Joe Vardon.
The Mavericks are off to a disastrous 4-11 start and have already fired general manager Nico Harrison, who conducted the trade that sent superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Davis last February.
Harrison's firing, combined with a rough first month, has understandably led some to believe the Mavs are looking to reset and perhaps build for a future centered around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Wednesday that Dallas is expected to explore the market for Davis ahead of the trade deadline in February.
Davis has been sidelined since Oct. 29 with a calf strain and is set to miss at least another week. He reportedly wanted to return to action earlier this month and was urged to by Harrison before he was fired, according to The Athletic, but the Mavs' medical staff didn't allow it, "citing the potential for a torn Achilles if Davis returned too soon."
When healthy, Davis is one of the best big men in the league, posting 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game across 51 contests last season. So far, he's played just 14 games since being traded to the Mavericks.
If the Mavericks wanted to trade Davis, it might be tough to get a significant haul in return, considering his injury history. He is also on a pricey contract, as he is owed $54.1 million this season, $58.5 million in 2026-27 and $62.8 million on a player option for 2027-28.
A fully healthy Mavericks team has Davis, Kyrie Irving and a promising rookie in Flagg, and it appears Cuban wants to see that group on the floor together before moving on from Davis.
If things go even further south before the trade deadline, Cuban might change his mind, but for now, it appears Davis is staying put in Dallas.
