Getty
The Dallas Mavericks are now “unlikely” to deal Anthony Davis before the February 5 trade deadline.
The Dallas Mavericks have certainly had an eventful season when it comes to Anthony Davis, for reasons both on and off the court.
It started with the general manager who traded for him being fired, leading to rumors the center was going to be dealt by the February 5 trade deadline. Then, Davis hurt his hand January 8 against the Utah Jazz, putting his season and his trade value in jeopardy. A positive second opinion stating the big man would not require surgery on the injury seemed to revive Dallas’ plans to deal him.
With less than two weeks to go before the deadline, however, Davis’ market doesn’t appear to be as robust as once thought. According to The Athletic’s Christian Clark, Davis is “unlikely” to move this season. There are multiple reasons for the lukewarm interest in Davis, even though the 10-time All-Star may be the best center available this year.
Anthony Davis’ Trade Market Has Cooled
Any team that makes a deal for Davis would be taking a gamble on his availability. The center is not expected to play until late February at the earliest, and even if he does make a rapid return from his hand injury, there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to stay healthy the rest of the way. He’s already missed 26 games with various ailments this season and has an extensive injury history in his career.
Davis’ contract is another factor cooling his trade market. He’s in the first year of a three-year maximum extension making roughly $54 million, and his salary will escalate in the next two seasons. For a player who hasn’t been able to stay on the floor as he’s gotten older (Davis will turn 33 in March), teams are reportedly wary of making that kind of financial commitment. Dallas would also likely ask for at least one first-round pick in a trade for Davis, forcing teams to acquire him at the expense of a younger, more cost-controlled player.
Dallas Mavericks Drawing Interest On Naji Marshall
According to Clark, one Mavericks’ player who does seem to be generating a lot of buzz amongst teams is Naji Marshall. The undrafted sixth-year player who started his career with the New Orleans Pelicans is having his best NBA season in Dallas, averaging 14.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and three assists. He’s also been highly efficient, shooting a career-high 54.5% from the field and 30.6% from three.
In contrast to Davis, Marshall is on an extremely affordable contract for his production, as he’s making $9 million this season and will be owed roughly $9.5 million next season. As the Mavericks look to get younger and build around Cooper Flagg, the forward is a player Dallas is signaling they’d like to keep, and it would need to see “something extraordinary” in a deal to trade him.
Colin Capece is an NBA Contributing Writer at Heavy. His work has appeared in The Sporting News, The Dallas Morning News, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, where he covered everything from Caitlin Clark mania to a burgeoning cricket league. Capece received his master’s degree from Northwestern University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. He roots for all the long-suffering New York sports teams. More about Colin Capece
More Heavy on Mavericks
Loading more stories