Hypothetical Four-Team Deal Would Move Anthony Davis to Golden State, Ship Draymond Green to Dallas
SLUG: hypothetical-four-team-trade-davis-warriors
ESPN writer Zach Kram has outlined a four-team trade concept that would put Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis in a Golden State Warriors uniform and bring an end to the long-running partnership between Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Proposed terms
Warriors receive: Anthony Davis, Mason Plumlee
Mavericks receive: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, 2026 first-round pick (via Warriors)
Lakers receive: Buddy Hield
Hornets receive: Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, cash considerations (via Lakers)
Key motivations
Kram argues that Golden State’s offense has lacked a dependable interior scorer and pick-and-roll finisher. Davis, averaging 25.5 points and 12.6 rebounds this season, would immediately address both needs. Meanwhile, Green is shooting 38 percent from the field, his lowest figure since his rookie campaign, prompting questions about his long-term fit next to Curry.
The financial structure also factors in. By rerouting Buddy Hield to the Lakers—who are desperate for additional perimeter shooting—the Warriors could avoid adding Hield’s salary to their own books. Charlotte would absorb Maxi Kleber’s expiring contract and finally land Dalton Knecht after a previously canceled deal.
Dallas’ perspective
For the Mavericks, the package offers defensive toughness in Green, potential upside in Kuminga and future flexibility through a 2026 first-round pick. ESPN cap analyst Bobby Marks notes that Kuminga’s team option and the extra draft asset could help Dallas stay competitive while preserving room to maneuver.
Risks involved
The principal gamble for Dallas is draft value: if Davis boosts the Warriors back into the Western Conference’s top tier, the 2026 pick could slide deep into the first round. Golden State must weigh the cost of breaking up its championship core, while the Lakers and Hornets would be betting on immediate roster fits.
Kram labels the scenario “creative, aggressive and chaotic”—the type of conversation starter that circulates among front offices, even if it never reaches serious negotiation.
Source: Hoops Wire
