The Dallas Mavericks are open to hearing trade proposals for Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and D’Angelo Russell, yet the front office is not actively shopping any of the four, according to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com.
Afseth’s report, published December 12, indicates rival clubs believe Dallas is assessing both its on-court performance and the wider trade landscape rather than positioning itself as a seller. Any move, league sources told Afseth, would be aimed at strengthening the club’s long-term outlook.
Irving–Flagg pairing a priority
The Mavericks want to evaluate how Kyrie Irving fits alongside rookie forward Cooper Flagg and view the All-Star guard as an important part of Flagg’s development. Irving’s name has not surfaced in current trade chatter.
Market for Anthony Davis
The Pistons, Hawks and Raptors are expected to express interest in Davis, but executives who spoke with Afseth questioned the eight-time All-Star’s fit in Detroit and Atlanta, labeling Toronto as the most logical destination of the trio. Still, both Afseth and earlier reporting from Marc Stein caution that a Davis deal is far from certain.
“The Mavericks are going to want to see how this team looks with AD and Kyrie,” one source said. “If there isn’t a good enough deal on the table, I don’t see a deal getting done.” Dallas could revisit the market—or an extension with Davis—during the offseason, the source added.
Klay Thompson’s situation
Despite inconsistent on-court results since arriving in Dallas, Thompson has remained a steady locker-room presence following the Luka Dončić trade, Afseth writes. Should serious talks arise, the Mavericks are expected to weigh the sharpshooter’s preference to join a contender.
League-wide notes
- There have been no significant developments in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Some executives still peg the Knicks as favorites if the two-time MVP becomes available, with the Heat and Spurs also monitoring.
- Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, back from a 10-game absence, is not on the trade block. If Memphis changes course, Miami is not viewed as a strong match.
- The Rockets, Timberwolves and Kings are tracking point-guard options ahead of the February 5 deadline.
- The Pacers have conducted background research on Jazz center Walker Kessler. Tyrese Haliburton is said to be an admirer of the fourth-year big man, who is out for the season following shoulder surgery. Kessler, a restricted free agent next summer, had sought a rookie-scale extension exceeding $120 million before the injury.
The NBA trade deadline is February 5.
Source: HoopsRumors
