Trade speculation surrounding Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis has intensified as league executives evaluate the escalating financial demands tied to any potential deal.
Multiple figures in the NBA believe Davis and Klutch Sports would seek a contract extension from any team that acquires him, even though he is currently in the first season of the three-year, $175 million extension he originally signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to reporting from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
With salary figures already locked in at $54.1 million this season, $58.5 million next season, and a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, the projected first year of a new extension would exceed $70 million, creating a major hurdle for suitors.
“There is an expectation in some corners, you see, that Davis and his representation at Klutch Sports will seek a contract extension from a new team if he indeed gets dealt,” Fischer wrote on Marc Stein's Substack. “Davis, remember, is in Year 1 of a three-year, $175 million extension he signed with the Lakers that is scheduled to pay $63 million in 2027-28. The Year 1 salary in an extension would thus exceed $70 million.”
The 10-time All-Star’s situation is made even more difficult by ongoing concerns about his availability. Since the February blockbuster that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, Davis has appeared in only 14 total games as a Maverick — just five this season due to a left calf strain that has prevented him from playing in 14 consecutive games.
Dallas was 2–3 with the 32-year-old before the injury and has gone 3–11 without him, contributing to a 5–14 record and a slide to 14th in the Western Conference. His absences come after a six-week adductor strain the prior season, adding to what teams already view as a significant injury history.
On the floor, Davis has averaged 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.9 blocks as a Maverick overall, including 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks in his brief 2025-26 action. Some teams interested in exploring a trade reportedly believe the Kentucky product needs to lose weight to improve mobility and regain his typical movement.
