The Dallas Mavericks are exploring a potential in-season trade for Anthony Davis following the firing of general manager Nico Harrison after a 3-9 start to the 2025-26 season. The team plans to work with Davis' camp over the next two-plus months to decide on a move as they shift focus to building around rookie Cooper Flagg. Former All-Star John Wall suggested Davis may want to return to his hometown of Chicago.
The Dallas Mavericks' decision to part ways with general manager Nico Harrison marks a pivotal shift following the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers nine months ago. Harrison's dismissal came after the team's 3-9 start, prompting a rebuild centered on No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, an 18-year-old forward who has shown defensive promise despite the roster's challenges.
Anthony Davis, acquired in the Doncic deal, has been limited by injuries, playing just five games this season with averages of 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. He has missed his seventh consecutive game as of Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns and could sit out an eighth on Friday versus the Los Angeles Clippers. Over his Mavericks tenure, Davis has appeared in only 14 of 44 possible games, including nine last season where he posted a double-double average when healthy.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks will collaborate with Davis' representatives over the next two-plus months to assess an in-season trade. There is no indication that Davis seeks to force an exit, despite his limited play. However, former five-time All-Star John Wall, speaking on FanDuel TV's 'Run It Back,' fueled speculation by stating, "I think at this point, AD’s probably done with it... You’ve been hearing he wants to go back to Chicago and see what’s going on." Davis, born in Chicago, attended Perspectives Charter School and was a five-star recruit at Kentucky before being drafted No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2012.
The 32-year-old Davis, a 2020 NBA champion with the Lakers, does not align with the Mavericks' timeline focused on Flagg. Trade rumors have intensified post-Harrison, with Dallas controlling its 2026 first-round pick but not the subsequent four, emphasizing the need to tank. Wall added, "I think they’re trying to blow it up, and build around Cooper Flagg." While no deal is imminent, the situation underscores the ongoing fallout from the Doncic trade.