Anthony Davis appears committed to staying with the Dallas Mavericks despite trade speculation, signaling a willingness to remain loyal to the franchise that picked him up when his time in Los Angeles came to an end.
The star forward reportedly hopes for a contract extension, though his representatives, including agent Rich Paul, doubt a deal will materialize in the upcoming offseason.
Anthony Davis expresses his frustation of dealing with injuries in Dallas
“There are trade discussions,” NBA insider Tim MacMahon said. “His agent, Rich Paul, has made it clear he thinks it’s in AD’s best interest to be traded.
“AD does not necessarily agree, though. I have been told he has not been pushing to be moved and is comfortable here in Dallas.”
Davis, however, has missed several games, including Saturday’s matchup against the Lakers, but was present at the arena, practicing with teammates while wearing a protective hand wrap during pregame drills.
The Mavericks star’s injury history has complicated trade talks, as Davis has played in only 31 of 80 games since joining Dallas, limiting the immediate appeal for potential suitors.
Hawks and Raptors cool on Davis trade
The Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors were previously seen as the top contenders for Davis, with Toronto reportedly offering RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and future draft picks in a proposed deal.
But recent reports suggest both teams have pulled back from active trade discussions, citing Davis‘ hand injury and the challenge of meeting Dallas’ valuation for the All-Star forward.
“It’s a struggle, frankly, to find any active trade scenarios involving Davis at the [moment],” Jake Fischer reports. “Both the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors have been signaling that they are no longer involved in significant trade talks with the Mavericks.”
The 32-year-old’s ligament damage in his left hand will keep him sidelined for at least six weeks, cooling his trade stock just ahead of the February 5 deadline, so teams are not keen to trade for a player out-of-commission.
“They’re not just going to sell him for nothing,” ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel said. “They want to try to get some value back, not just a salary dump move.
“Probably not going to get that at the trade deadline right now. I don’t see that happening…”
With suitors cooling and injuries mounting, Davis‘ future in Dallas may take an unexpected turn, though he appears willing to defy agent advice and remain loyal to the team that brought him to the league.
