The Dallas Mavericks are widely expected to trade NBA star Anthony Davis this season. Thus far, Davis has been linked to the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors in trade rumors.
However, NBA insider Zach Lowe believes the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers could pursue the future Hall of Famer.
“When Dallas fired Nico Harrison and I went through all the fake Anthony Davis trades, I said right away you’ve got to look at teams that are desperate to win and underperforming and can bundle some expiring salary,” Lowe said on his podcast. “And I said like I’d look at the Bucks, I’d look at the Clippers for Anthony Davis.”
The Bucks are in 11th place in the East, while the Clippers are in 11th place in the West.
Davis is eligible for a four-year, $275 million maximum extension in August. The 2020 NBA champion is making $54.1 million this season. He’ll make $58.5 million next season and has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.
Sources told Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal that Davis will seek a contract extension from the Mavericks in the offseason if he doesn’t get traded this season. If Dallas does trade Davis, the Chicago native and his agent — Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group — will pursue an extension with the team he gets traded to.
Davis has appeared in only 17 games this season. He’s averaging 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
A top 75 player of all time, Davis has played in just 26 games with the Mavericks since the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade last season. Davis is averaging 20.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per game in a Dallas uniform.
The Mavericks are exploring the trade markets for Davis, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, sources told Afseth. All four players have been in trade rumors ever since Harrison was fired as general manager.
While Dallas is listening to trade offers for Davis, the front office will not trade the Kentucky product unless they get a “strong” return, sources told Afseth.
A 10-time All-Star, Davis has played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers and Mavericks. He holds career averages of 24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.