New Anthony Davis Trade Rumors Reveal Team Having 'Most Active' Talks with Mavs at NBA Deadline

The Dallas Mavericks are continuing to explore their options to trade star big man Anthony Davis ahead of Thursday's deadline, and one Eastern Conference team is reportedly still in the hunt.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the Mavs' "most active" trade discussions regarding Davis have been with the Toronto Raptors, but sources said that "no deal is imminent."

Davis has been considered a likely trade candidate for much of the season following the firing of general manager Nico Harrison in November. Harrison was responsible for bringing Davis to Dallas as part of last season's shocking trade that sent star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Unfortunately, Davis' trade value has plummeted over the last few months due to his inability to stay on the court. After dealing with calf and groin injuries earlier in the year, he suffered ligament damage in his left hand last month and is sidelined for an extended period.

The Athletic's Christian Clark reported on Tuesday that "it remains unlikely" that the Mavs will be able to move on from Davis by Thursday's deadline. Sources told MacMahon that team governor Patrick Dumont "has continued to emphasize internally that he does not feel pressure" to trade the 10-time All-Star so hastily. Also, Davis would carry a significant financial impact wherever he ends up.

"League sources The Athletic spoke with have expressed concern about Davis exercising his $62.7 million player option for the 2027-28 season, when he will be 34 years old," Clark explained. "Some prominent voices in the NBA have also expressed incredulity about Davis' Klutch Sports representatives desiring a contract extension for him while he underperforms during his current deal."

Still, it sounds like the Raptors haven't given up on trying to add the 32-year-old. At 30-21, Toronto ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference and appears poised to earn a playoff spot after falling short of the postseason in each of the last three years. Sources told MacMahon that the team has been "aggressively searching for frontcourt help, including engaging with the Sacramento Kings in discussions about center Domantas Sabonis."

Davis is one of the best two-way players in the NBA when healthy, so acquiring him would certainly boost the Raptors' chances of making a deep playoff run and potentially competing for an NBA championship.