The last few weeks have been rife with a never-ending stream of Anthony Davis trade rumors. But there has not been real smoke until very recently, with real suitors and packages becoming apparent. This
began with a Chris Haynes report, detailing that the Atlanta Hawks have a real interest in Anthony Davis.
But what does this mean?
For the first time this year, I believe that the Mavericks have had real discussions to trade Davis, and that they may be in the process of negotiating a trade as we speak. My belief is further supported by Marc Stein, who reported that the “Hawks are a real-deal suitor for Davis”.
So, what would a hypothetical Anthony Davis trade look like? And how could the Mavericks get the most value possible to kickstart the Cooper Flagg era. The most logical package of players that makes sense would include the following:
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Luke Kennard
- Zaccharie Risacher
This package almost perfectly matches Davis’s $54.1 million salary, and also includes the type of players the Mavericks desire, namely expiring contracts and young assets. Porzingis and Kennard add up to over $40 million in expiring money, giving the Mavericks major cap flexibility going into next year. But the real prize is last year’s number one overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher. While Risacher has not met expectations, he is still very young and has enticing two-way upside. The fit next to Cooper Flagg is also very intriguing, as both have a do-it-all style that modern basketball is built around.
This package would also more than likely have to include draft compensation, as while Risacher is interesting, his upside is still very limited.
A.D. for expiring’s, picks, and Risacher
Mavs receive: Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, Zaccharie Risacher, ATL 2026 first round pick, ATL 2032 first round pick swap.
Hawks receive: Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell
The players involved in this deal make the most sense for the Mavericks, but one name that would make ample sense is not involved. Trae Young. While Young would make sense contractually, the Mavericks have “ no interest” in Young, as reported by Tim MacMahon. Young’s fit next to Kyrie makes little sense, and while he is a good player, he often does not contribute to winning basketball. The other asset that is absent from this package is the Pelicans first round pick this year, which is one of the most valuable trade assets in the league. While the Mavericks will surely ask for this pick, I heavily doubt that the Hawks would be willing to part from such a valuable draft pick. This trade finds the middle ground, as the Mavericks would still acquire a second pick in this year’s draft, as well as a future pick swap, in exchange for packaging Russell in this deal.
But would the Mavericks accept such a package?
Although fans want to be free of Anthony Davis, no matter the cost, the front office may not feel the same. When A.D. is traded, fans and media alike will flock to dunk on the Mavericks for the lackluster package they receive for Davis. This sort of embarrassment will not help the public perception of the organization, and may lead to them not trading Davis, even if it seems obvious. It shouldn’t take a genius to realize this line of thinking is absurd, but this organization has never been normal, so don’t put it past them.
But personally, I do believe that Davis will be an Atlanta Hawk by the trade deadline. I believe that both sides have real motivation to find a deal. The Hawks are currently cratering in the East standings and need a jolt of energy to save their season. On the other hand, the Mavericks need to begin the Cooper Flagg era as soon as possible and have to trade Davis before he suffers another long-term injury. These factors lead me to believe that both sides will work hard to find a solution, and a trade could be more imminent than anyone thinks.
