The Dallas Mavericks find themselves in a spot that feels like a fever dream. Honestly, if you told a Mavs fan three years ago that the franchise would be sitting at 15-26 in mid-January 2026, without Luka Doncic, and desperately trying to figure out what to do with a hobbled Anthony Davis, they’d probably ask you to stop joking. But here we are. The latest Dallas Mavericks trade news is dominated by one name, and it’s not because he’s playing—it’s because he’s hurt. Again.
Everything changed a week ago. When Davis clutched his left hand against the Utah Jazz, the collective groan from North Texas could be heard in Oklahoma. It’s ligament damage. No surgery, thankfully, but a six-week recovery timeline that puts him right past the February 5 trade deadline.
It’s messy.
The Rich Paul Factor and the "Well, We’ll See" Problem
Agents usually keep things behind the curtain. Not this time. Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, is reportedly pushing hard for a move. Why? It basically comes down to the "Well, we’ll see" response he allegedly got from the Mavs front office regarding a contract extension.
In the NBA, "we'll see" is essentially code for "probably not."
Davis is 32. He’ll be 33 in March. He’s owed $58.5 million next season and has a player option for nearly $63 million after that. Paul knows that if Davis is going to land one last massive four-year, $275 million extension, it likely won’t be in Dallas. The Mavericks are pivoting. They have Cooper Flagg now. Flagg is the real deal, a rookie who is already looking like the future of the league, and the Mavs are clearly more interested in building a timeline around him than clinging to the remains of the "Luka-for-AD" trade era.
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Who is Still Buying?
You’d think a 32-year-old with a hand injury and a massive contract would have zero market. You’d be wrong.
The Eastern Conference is currently a literal arms race. There are teams that genuinely believe they are one elite rim protector away from a Finals run. According to recent reports from Marc Stein and Shams Charania, the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks are still circling the wagons.
The Raptors Proposal
The latest buzz out of Toronto involves a package that would fundamentally shift the Mavs' roster. We’re talking:
- RJ Barrett (A three-level scorer who fits Flagg’s timeline)
- Jakob Poeltl (A reliable, traditional center)
- Draft Capital (The 2026 first-rounder is the big prize here)
If the Mavs take this, they basically admit the Nico Harrison era—and the trade that sent Luka to the Lakers—was a swing and a miss. But it gives them the flexibility they desperately need.
The Hawks and the "Porzingis Return"
Atlanta is the other wild card. They have expiring deals like Luke Kennard and, ironically, Kristaps Porzingis. The Mavs have reportedly been asking for the New Orleans Pelicans' unprotected 2026 first-round pick that Atlanta owns. The Hawks haven’t budged yet. They also don't want to give up Zaccharie Risacher, which makes sense.
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It’s Not Just About AD
While the headlines scream about Davis, there’s a quiet fire sale brewing for the supporting cast. Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall are the names to watch.
Gafford is attracting significant interest from Eastern Conference teams looking for depth. He’s been solid, but with Dereck Lively II needing more minutes and the team potentially looking at Poeltl in a trade, Gafford becomes an expensive luxury.
Then there’s Naji Marshall. He’s been a bright spot on a three-year, $27 million deal. The Mavs say they don’t want to trade him. He’s a "winning" player on a team that isn't winning much right now. But if the Detroit Pistons come calling with a 2026 first-round pick and a player like Paul Reed, do you say no? Probably not if you're looking at the lottery odds.
The Cooper Flagg Effect
We have to talk about the kid. Cooper Flagg is the only reason Mavs fans haven't completely tuned out this season. He’s a generational talent, and the front office—currently in a bit of a transitional state with Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi—knows it.
The strategy is shifting toward a "soft tank." By moving Davis or Gafford for picks, the Mavs improve their own lottery odds for the 2026 draft. It’s a loaded class. If they can pair Flagg with another top-five pick, the Doncic trade becomes a footnote rather than a franchise-killer.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception right now is that the Mavs have to trade Davis by February 5. They don't.
They are telling anyone who will listen that they won't sell low. If the offers are trash, they’ll wait until the summer. By August, Davis will be healthy, and teams might be more desperate after a failed playoff run. The risk, of course, is that his value could drop even further if another injury pops up. It's a high-stakes game of chicken between the Mavs and the rest of the league.
The "Secret" Suitor: Charlotte?
One theory floating around from Sam Quinn at CBS Sports involves the Charlotte Hornets. It sounds crazy until you look at the math. The Hornets own the Mavs’ 2027 first-round pick (top-two protected). Dallas wants that pick back. Charlotte has the cap space to take on bad money.
A deal involving Miles Bridges or Grant Williams (the return!) coming back to Dallas in exchange for Davis and Klay Thompson? It’s a long shot, but in a season this weird, you can't rule out anything.
Actionable Steps for the Deadline
If you're following the Dallas Mavericks trade news, keep your eyes on these specific triggers over the next three weeks:
- Monitor the 10-day contracts: The signing of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to a hardship deal shows how thin the frontcourt is. If more "filler" players are signed, expect a consolidation trade.
- Watch the Hawks' rotation: If Atlanta starts pulling back on minutes for their expiring vets, a blockbuster might be cooking.
- Check the practice reports: Even though AD is out 6 weeks, "resuming basketball activities" early could cause his trade value to spike 48 hours before the deadline.
- Don't ignore the "small" moves: A Naji Marshall trade will be the first domino. If he goes, the Mavs are officially open for business.
The next few weeks will define the next five years of Dallas basketball. Whether they build a fortress around Flagg or continue to tread water with aging stars is entirely up to how they handle the Anthony Davis dilemma.