Mavericks: Will Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving be traded?
After the firing of Nico Harrison, the big question in the NBA is: Will the Mavericks rebuild their roster?
Few, inside and outside the NBAthey believed in the arguments that Nico Harrison used in February to justify one of the most shocking transfers in the history of the league: the sending of Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles Lakers.
Nor did many believe Harrison should have remained as GM of the Mavs, as last season’s dismal finish spilled over into the current one, including chants of “Nico out!” that echoed through the house during the Mavericks’ free throws in a game that was decided by a single possession Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. So, in that spirit, we decided to ask league executives and scouts if they believe in some of the most shocking early-season trends in the NBA, starting with the collapse of the Mavericks franchise.
Do you think Dallas will continue to be this bad?
Tim Bontemps: In conversations with NBA sources this week, following Harrison’s firing, there is a near-unanimous belief that the Mavericks cannot remain as bad as their 3-10 record and -6.6 point differential suggests. Does that mean league experts project a strong playoff showing? No. “I still think they could be good if everyone is healthy,” a Western Conference executive told AM850. “But you can’t bet on that.”
Even if they are healthy—Dallas is far from healthy now, with Anthony Davis playing only five games and Kyrie Irving out after a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in March—the deficiencies in the squad persist. D’Angelo Russellthe only proven point guard on the active roster, has been completely sidelined by coach Jason Kidd in favor of Brandon Williams, who has a partially guaranteed minimum contract.
While Williams has shown flashes of talent — he scored 17 points and dished out nine assists in Wednesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns — Dallas’ lack of ballhandling and the imbalances on its roster are undeniable.
“Until they have a reliable base, they’re going to fail,” said one West scout.
With the Mavericks grabbing the league’s attention this week, the conversation quickly turned to the question hanging over whoever is chosen to replace Harrison as CEO: What future awaits Davis and Irving less than three months before the transfer market closes in February?
According to sources consulted, it is believed that the optimal strategy for the Mavs was to get rid of at least Davis, if not both stars. Those decisions would help maximize the value of the 2026 first-round draft pick — the only one Dallas controls for the rest of this decade — to reposition the franchise around Cooper Flagg, the top pick in the 2025 draft.
“No doubt,” one Eastern Conference executive responded when asked if trading the two veteran stars was the right decision for Dallas.
Brian Windhorst: Honestly, surprisingly, conversations with league executives this week haven’t centered on whether the Mavericks should trade Davis; There seems to be a consensus that it is probably the correct strategy, despite being another hard blow for the fans. A team built around Irving and Davis has grit, and it is not unreasonable to at least want to see the entire squad in action; with Irving’s rehab progressing well, he should be a viable option.
But no, the conversations revolved around whether the Mavs could get adequate value by trading Davis.
“I just checked so I can tell the owner this if he asks me about it: AD turns 33 in March and next summer he’ll probably want a contract extension that would cost $70 million a year when he’s 37,” one general manager said.
“He is a great player, without a doubt. But if we consider a player of his age with his history of injuries, we would also be assuming the stress of that contract extension. That influences.”
Referencing Davis’ injury history is tiring. When healthy, he is a player who can change the course of playoff series on both ends of the floor. His arrival to the Lakers in 2019, before their title in the bubble, changed the balance of power in the league. If the Mavericks come to the conclusion that they need to realign their schedule around Flagg — for now, that’s anyone’s guess, regardless of what rival front office strategists predict — there’s a chance the balance of power could shift again.
But the takeaway from this week’s talks is whether Dallas can get offers that make him a no-brainer.
“There is one thing I can say with absolute certainty,” said one veteran executive. “If Dallas decides to trade AD, they won’t get the same compensation the Lakers got for him.” Oh really.
Bontemps: An underappreciated aspect of the departure of Davis and Irving is that Dallas would avoid the luxury tax.
According to AM850’s Bobby Marks, the Mavericks owe about $32 million in taxes on their current roster and are over the luxury tax threshold by about $16 million this season. For a team without a future, it is very difficult to justify those expenses.
Getting rid of its two stars before the market close would allow Dallas to potentially avoid the tax, restructure its schedule and acquire future draft picks and players to renew a veteran roster with promising young players alongside its young star.
