Hand Surgery Looms for Mavericks’ Anthony Davis as Dallas Keeps Trade Lines Open
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Dallas Mavericks forward-center Anthony Davis is expected to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. A procedure would sideline the 10-time All-Star for several months and could effectively end his 2025-26 regular season.
Despite the anticipated layoff, Dallas has not pulled Davis off the trade market. League sources told ESPN that the club has resumed discussions with multiple teams interested in acquiring the 33-year-old, hoping he could return for the postseason and remain a key piece beyond 2026-27.
Davis injured the hand late in the fourth quarter of last Thursday’s loss at Utah when it bent awkwardly while he defended Lauri Markkanen on a drive. Subsequent evaluations revealed ligament damage, and the veteran sought additional medical opinions while weighing surgical versus non-surgical options. Surgery is believed to carry the longer recovery timeline.
Several factors have depressed Davis’s market value this season: a lengthy injury history, an age that will hit 33 in March, a $54.1 million salary for 2025-26, and his reported desire for an offseason contract extension. His current deal runs through at least next season and includes a $62 million player option for 2027-28.
Trading Davis before the February deadline would mean moving an asset who cannot play immediately, forcing Dallas to accept a reduced return. The decision now falls to interim co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi; former GM Nico Harrison, who obtained Davis in last year’s blockbuster Luka Dončić swap, is no longer with the organization.
Atlanta and Toronto have been most frequently linked to Davis since the season opened. The Hawks, after sending Trae Young to Washington to create future cap flexibility, are viewed as a more practical partner. If Atlanta does make an offer, league rules prevent the team from re-aggregating recently acquired CJ McCollum or Corey Kispert in any deal before the Feb. 5 deadline.
Source: Hoops Rumors
