Firing Nico Harrison is unlikely to fix the Dallas Mavericks in the near future. This squad is plagued by injuries and will have no shot at surviving the onerous Western Conference unless they can stay relatively healthy for an extended period of time. Ownership should know there is no easy solution to this 3-8 start to the season. However, by dismissing its polarizing general manager, it is potentially giving players and fans the opportunity to move forward. Would an Anthony Davis trade accomplish the same?
Although the city was furious to lose franchise centerpiece Luka Doncic less than a year after he led the Mavs to the NBA Finals, most people could at least admit that the former Los Angeles Lakers big man was one of the best two-way players in the league. His championship experience only enhanced his stock. But whatever positivity there was surrounding Davis following his Dallas arrival is extremely hard to spot now.
The four-time All-NBA First-Team selection has played in only 14 games for the Mavericks since last February's unprecedented deal. He is currently nursing a left calf strain, a distressing situation for a squad that is barely above the last-place New Orleans Pelicans in the West. The more time he misses, the more frustrated this fan base becomes. Davis, fair or not, will always serve as a reminder of what Dallas lost.
When on the court, the 32-year-old still has plenty to offer, but he will probably never have the chance to craft his own Mavs legacy. When one sees The Brow, they inevitably think of Doncic. Now that Harrison is gone, perhaps Patrick Dumont and company will prefer to end the brief Anthony Davis era before tempers flare any further. If Dallas is serious about a trade, there are a few organizations that could afford to gamble on this future Hall of Famer.
While people reflect on these turbulent times, we are ranking Davis' top-three landing spots. Let's get into it.
1. AD makes a ton of sense for Pistons
A fairly young team on the rise may not sound like an ideal destination for an injury-prone veteran, but stay with me for a bit. Davis is the additional star the Detroit Pistons (9-2) may need to win an opportunity-laden Eastern Conference.
Yes, the franchise is already doing fine without him, stringing together a seven-game winning streak after pushing the New York Knicks in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and yes, the 10-time All-Star will do little to address the team's 3-point shooting deficiencies. Are you still with me? If so, chew on this: an accomplished talent who can score and defend at a high level could be a massive difference-maker, specifically during the 2025-26 campaign.
The Pistons cannot just assume that they will remain fixtures in the conference for the long term. There is an abundance of game-changing talents in the NBA, and with both Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton sidelined with Achilles injuries, it makes sense for management to take full advantage of the current landscape. We have established that Davis is a huge injury risk in his own right, but Detroit has the luxury of not needing to overextend him during the regular season.
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren can continue to lead Detroit and comprise one of the most exciting duos in the game today. Then, come playoff time, the Pistons can lean on Anthony Davis. The three-time All-Defensive First-Teamer should nicely mesh with this squad's identity and infuse valuable offensive firepower.
The goal is to get over the hump. Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff knows as well as anyone how difficult it can be to fulfill that task. Despite the skepticism hovering above him, Davis could be the propulsive force the Pistons require in order to turn an impressive year into a special one.
2. Anthony Davis could raise the Spurs' ceiling to scary heights, for the right price
Much of what I said about the Pistons applies to the San Antonio Spurs (8-2). They are already near the top of the standings, rewarding fans' patience by taking a sizable leap forward in the early portion of the campaign. A roster shake-up is understandably a risky proposition. There are two factors that make Davis a nice match for Alamo City, however: the front office boasts the assets to pull off an acceptable move, and the Oklahoma City Thunder will be mighty tough to beat.
Setting sights on the reigning NBA champions is admittedly bold, particularly because the Spurs have not clinched the postseason since 2018-19, but this group is giving fans good reason to adjust expectations. While there are other worthy contenders like the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, the right star player can give San Antonio new legitimacy.
The Spurs possess the draft picks to assemble an appealing trade package for the Mavericks. If they can get a third team involved, perhaps there is a world in which Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Anthony Davis all share the floor. It might be tricky, but the benefits are undeniable.
San Antonio's frontcourt could reach a truly elite level with another exceptionally versatile defender in the mix. Davis can do more than just defend, however. He averaged 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 42 games last season. Even though he will have a hard time hitting those numbers moving forward, the 2020 champion has the ability to boost the Spurs without interfering with their young core's growth.
3. Bucks could use a new running mate for The Greek Freak
The Milwaukee Bucks (7-4) have made a concentrated effort to acquire a star who can effectively play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the results have not worked as intended. Despite the value he provides, Myles Turner cannot make the same impact that Davis can.
Who knows how many more years the Bucks have Antetokounmpo for? They must operate with purpose and make the necessary decisions to position the team for another title run. Longtime NBA writer Zach Lowe has a trade in mind that he believes Milwaukee should at least consider.
“The Bucks always seem to pull a rabbit out of a hat, and you can make a deal of {Kyle} Kuzma plus Myles Turner plus a first-round pick for Anthony Davis,” he said on “The Zach Lowe Show,” via the NBA Courtside X account.
Lowe mentioned the cost of retaining Davis, who could soon seek a contract extension ($62.7 million player option for 2027-28 season). Though, he also understands the damage the three-time blocking king can cause with No. 34. These two ferocious athletes can help each other shoulder the burden, thereby increasing the likelihood they are both healthy for the playoffs.
Milwaukee would still need others to step up, namely in the shooting department, but overpowering this imposing tandem should take an immense effort. There is this notion that two bigs cannot flourish together in the modern era, but the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. An Antetokounmpo/Davis duo would be uniquely gifted.
The Bucks are probably not content after their solid start. Following Nico Harrison's firing, it is possible that the Mavericks hold the top trade piece. Anthony Davis should draw consideration from all three of the aforementioned squads, as few individuals can so intensely affect a game on both ends of the floor. Dallas' leap of faith ended with its GM in flames, but maybe the Pistons, Spurs or Bucks could make it to the other side if they take the plunge.
