Mavericks willing to field Anthony Davis inquiries; stance on Irving, Gafford, Lively and front-office search outlined
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The Dallas Mavericks are expected to entertain trade calls for star center Anthony Davis in the run-up to February’s deadline, several reporters said this week, even after minority owner Mark Cuban publicly downplayed that possibility.
Marc Stein wrote on Substack that Dallas plans to “take any incoming trade calls” for Davis over the next few months. Whether a deal emerges will hinge on the quality of offers, Stein added, noting the eight-time All-Star’s extensive injury history and current calf strain.
Roster decisions around Cooper Flagg
Team sources told Christian Clark of The Athletic that the Mavericks intend to be “opportunistic” in any move that strengthens the core around rookie forward Cooper Flagg. Those sources emphasized the club remains in information-gathering mode as it weighs long-term options.
Irving not officially on the block
Stein’s reporting also indicates Dallas is not actively shopping Kyrie Irving, who is sidelined indefinitely with a torn ACL. The Mavericks, lacking future first-round picks, could revisit that stance if an exceptional proposal arrives, but their current preference is to keep the nine-time All-Star.
Interest building in Daniel Gafford
The Mavericks could receive multiple inquiries on center Daniel Gafford should they make him available, Stein said. Gafford has averaged 13.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 27.0 minutes over his last four games after missing the start of the season with a right ankle sprain.
Lively unlikely to be moved
During a Bleacher Report livestream, NBA insider Jake Fischer predicted Dallas will avoid trading contributors at reduced value while they recover from injuries. He singled out rookie center Dereck Lively II as a player he does not expect to see on the market.
Front-office outlook
Both Stein and Clark reported that team governor Patrick Dumont is not rushing to hire a new head of basketball operations after the dismissal of Nico Harrison. “The timeline won’t determine the hire. The qualifications will determine the hire,” a source familiar with ownership’s thinking told The Athletic. The organization is said to be prioritizing “calmness and stability” in the next executive. Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley continue to run day-to-day operations as co-interim general managers.
Source: Hoops Rumors
