![\"Dallas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2254312692-e1768440559943.jpg\")
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The Anthony Davis<\/a> trade rumors didn\u2019t cool off anytime soon. They exploded again after ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins openly called for Dallas to move both Davis and Kyrie Irving<\/a> while building around rookie Cooper Flagg<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not just considering trading Anthony Davis, I\u2019m trading the 33-year-old Kyrie Irving too. If you\u2019re talking about rebuilding, then rebuild.\u201d During NBA<\/a> Countdown on Jan. 14, Perkins said he wasn\u2019t just \u201cconsidering\u201d trading Davis. He\u2019d trade the 33-year-old Irving, too, arguing Dallas needs to fully commit to a rebuild instead of waiting on a Davis-Kyrie sample size that may never arrive.<\/p>\n That take landed at the exact moment Davis\u2019 hand injury has become a major story and search trend \u2014 and it comes just hours before Dallas hosts the Denver Nuggets<\/a> in a game that will draw a national audience on ESPN.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kendrick Perkins Piles On as Anthony Davis Hand Injury Dominates Searches<\/p>\n Davis is expected to miss about six weeks and won\u2019t need surgery, per an Associated Press report shared by NBA.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dallas\u2019 problem is the same one Perkins is screaming about: the team keeps getting forced into \u201cwhat are we even building?\u201d questions because availability keeps wrecking any runway.<\/p>\n Davis has played 20 games this season, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists (plus strong rim protection) before the injury.<\/p>\n And Irving? He\u2019s still working back from the torn ACL that ended his 2024-25 season, when he averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists.<\/p>\n What It Means for Mavericks vs. Nuggets Tonight<\/p>\n Even with all the trade noise, Dallas still has to play games, and Mavericks<\/a> vs. Nuggets is set up to trend fast with stars on the injury report for both sides.<\/p>\n Key game info (Nuggets at Mavericks): Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)<\/p>\n TV channel: ESPN (plus local listings in both markets)<\/p>\n How to stream: ESPN app (with TV login), plus live-TV streamers that carry ESPN (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Fubo)<\/p>\n Injury report snapshot: Davis is listed out, and Irving is also out. Denver has Nikola Jokic listed out as well.<\/p>\n Odds (as of mid-day): Dallas -1.5 with a 224.5 total was one widely posted number Wednesday morning (lines can move quickly).<\/p>\n The Pressure Point Dallas Can\u2019t Escape<\/p>\n Perkins\u2019 message was simple: if Dallas is serious about building around Flagg, stop pretending a Davis-Irving run is guaranteed \u2014 and sell while you can.<\/p>\n Dallas\u2019 front office is also staring at the ugly reality Perkins pointed out: there may never be a true \u201csample size\u201d of Davis and Irving together. Irving\u2019s ACL rehab timeline pushes his return deep into next season, and Davis\u2019 hand injury is already creating another gap in continuity. That\u2019s why \u201cAnthony Davis hand injury\u201d and \u201cAnthony Davis trade rumors\u201d are traveling together in searches, fans are trying to figure out whether Dallas is chasing wins now or just preserving asset value.<\/p>\n And if the Mavericks stumble on national TV against Denver, the noise won\u2019t stay contained to TV panels. The usual game-night searches \u2014 \u201cMavs vs Nuggets score,\u201d \u201cbox score,\u201d \u201chighlights,\u201d \u201cJokic status,\u201d \u201cstarting lineup,\u201d and \u201cinjury report update\u201d \u2014 will quickly turn into \u201cwho\u2019s getting traded next?\u201d if the game gets away early.<\/p>\n Whether you agree or not, that\u2019s exactly why this story is catching fire: Dallas is trying to survive the present and argue about the future at the same time, and the Nuggets game is about to pour gasoline on both conversations<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tErik Anderson<\/a> is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Mavericks\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t
\n@KendrickPerkins<\/a> weighs in on how the Mavericks should move forward with the future of the franchise \ud83d\udc40 <\/p>\n
\nGame time: 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 CT \/ 7:30 MT \/ 6:30 PT)<\/p>\n