A lot of news came out about Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis on Jan. 13. Initial reports suggested that he would require surgery on a hand injury and would miss the rest of the regular season. Then, it was reported that Davis doesn't need surgery, and he will instead be re-evaluated in six weeks.
Before the injury-prone big suffered yet another medical setback, it looked like he was well on his way to being traded ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Davis was involved in the Luka Doncic deal just last year. It was a shocking move when it happened, and time has proven that it was a mistake on the Mavericks' end.
Davis' injury history and the Mavericks' struggles led to Davis hitting the trade block less than a year after his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the concerns surrounding the former number one pick, Davis is still one of the most talented players in the NBA when healthy, meaning he was one of the top trade targets this year before he hurt his hand.
Initially, it was assumed the trade market would vanish when Davis got hurt. Not only is he set to miss extended time and, therefore, won't be able to contribute much this year, but it is crystal clear that he is made of glass and will struggle with injuries for the rest of his career. However, Shams Charania reported that there are still teams with interest.
Davis could return for a playoff push, and interested teams will hope that he could contribute going forward. Davis' situation makes a potential trade more than unique, but who are the top teams that would make sense as potential trade destinations for the Kentucky product?
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks already made the biggest trade of the 2025-26 season. They traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for next to nothing. Young's future with the team was in doubt, but it was still an incredibly underwhelming return to just get CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, and no draft capital in return.
The Hawks could get some redemption by trading a minuscule package to the Mavericks for Davis. Davis' contract and injury concerns mean that it shouldn't take a big trade offer to acquire him. A deal centered around fellow injury-prone big man Kristaps Porzingis could make sense.
The Young trade reset the franchise, and they probably won't be over it until next year. Come next season, Davis will be healthy and could help the team move forward.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an old team, and they want to push for one more championship before franchise legends Stephen Curry and Draymond Green retire. Now, trading for Davis will be easier said than done because of his massive contract, but he would be a good fit on this team.
He fits the timeline of the older roster, which also includes Jimmy Butler and Al Horford. While reports suggest that Davis wants his next team to give him a contract extension, the Warriors might be able get Davis without sacrificing an arm and a leg for him, and they could then avoid giving him a contract extension if they didn't want him to stick around long-term.
The Warriors need interior help, but Davis would also fit the scheme as a big man who can play on the perimeter and do work outside, both on offense and defense. The Warriors need help getting to the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference. The fact that Davis' injury timeline won't hold him out for as long as originally anticipated only means that Golden State could have even more interest than previously thought.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have surprised many and become the top team in the Eastern Conference. Just two years ago, the team tied the record for consecutive losses. Now, their 28-10 mark is second-best in the entire NBA. The team is still young and not yet battle-tested, though.
A player with championship experience, such as Davis, could really take the Pistons to the next level. Come his return before the playoffs, he could be the piece that gets the team to the next level, even if he is on a minutes restriction. The Pistons are still young enough that Davis can help them contend for years to come, too.
While Davis isn't a marksman from deep, he does have more shooting ability than a lot of players at his position. This could help improve Detroit's biggest weakness, which is jump shooting. He'd also fit the defensive mindset of a team that is fourth in points allowed.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets have a surplus of draft assets and young players that they could trade, but it shouldn't take that to acquire Davis because of his likely small trade value. What the Nets do have to offer is cap space, which will make both taking on Davis' contract easier, as well as potentially giving him a future extension.
The Nets are a young team that is far from contending, but Davis could help get them on the right track. The Nets drafted five players in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, but only Danny Wolf is a big man, and none of the five primarily play Davis' natural power forward position.
Young players struggle on defense and miss a lot of shots, but Davis is an elite rim protector who can cover for the youngsters at the rim, and he is a solid rebounder who can clean up the mess on the offensive glass. He can also shoulder a heavy offensive burden for a team that is largely relying on Michael Porter Jr. this season. The Nets are primed to be trade deadline sellers. Rumors have even suggested that Porter could be traded soon. They actually make sense as a trade fit for Davis, though.
