Mavericks Trade Proposal Sees Team Move on From Anthony Davis
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After a very long year, the Dallas Mavericks are entering the NBA offseason with a ton of momentum. Despite not making the playoffs, the Mavericks did win the 2025 NBA Draft lottery.
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Dallas will now have a chance to draft Duke star Cooper Flagg, giving them an expected generational talent for years to come. But with the likelihood of them drafting Flagg, the Mavericks now have a logjam in the frontcourt.
But one new trade proposal would help the Mavericks break up the frontcourt by moving on from star big man Anthony Davis. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report put together trades for all teams and had Dallas land a strong package for the All-Star.
Here is what the deal looks like:
Hornets receive: Anthony Davis
Mavericks receive: Miles Bridges, Jusuf Nurkić, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 18: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of the Play-In Tournament at FedExForum on April 18, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 18: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of the Play-In Tournament at FedExForum on April 18, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Photo byTrading away Davis right after the team landed him for star guard Luka Doncic would certainly be an interesting decision. But the team didn't get enough value from the Doncic deal, and this could be a way to help rectify that.
This trade would likely be about getting off the large contract of Davis, mostly due to his long injury history. Dallas could net some extra draft capital as well, giving them some ammo for a larger move down the line.
Bridges could slot into the rotation as a solid wing player, offering athleticism and shooting. His contract is also team-friendly, with Bridges only making a little more than $20 million in each of the next two seasons.
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Nurkić could help replace Davis in the frontcourt, while giving the Mavericks a decent expiring contract. Dallas could look to move Nurkić at the trade deadline for more future assets.
All in all, a deal like this could help Dallas in the future. But if the team wants to contend for a title next season, keeping Davis around helps in that regard.
Davis is one of the better big men in the entire NBA, and the Mavericks targeted him for Doncic for a reason. The Mavericks aren't likely to move Davis anytime soon, unless a deal that the team can't turn down falls into their lap.
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For more on Mavericks and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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