Dallas Mavericks star big man Anthony Davis is unexpectedly back on the trade block.
At least, that is according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported on Wednesday that Davis is likely to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand.
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If the 10-time All-Star opts not to have surgery, he is expected to miss at least six weeks while recovery from surgery could take months, ESPN said.
While it was initially thought that would result in Davis missing the season, NBA insider Marc Stein reported there is a chance he could instead return in March.
With that in mind, Charania noted that the Mavericks are now holding renewed trade talks involving Davis and that multiple teams are interested.
“These are teams that feel like, ‘OK, maybe Anthony Davis has a chance to return during the playoffs’ and also could have a long-term future with said team for the next two to four years,” Charania explained on ESPN’s ‘NBA Today’.
Charania went on to add that the cost is “going to be lower” than a month ago before he suffered the injury, which goes without saying, but it speaks to what makes a potential trade for Davis attractive.
While his constant battle with injuries has been concerning, there is an opportunity for a contending team to get Davis at a discount.
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The only additional complicating matter is the fact Davis is owed $58.4 million in Dallas next year, then has a $62.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season, so it will still be costly.
He is also eligible for a mega four-year, $275 million max contract extension next August.
Davis responded to the latest rumours surrounding his potential injury timeline with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing: “Y’all better stop listening to all these lies on these apps!”
Davis, 32, had been considered a top trade target before the injury with the league’s trade deadline coming up on February 6 (AEDT).
He arrived in Dallas last season in the shocking blockbuster deal that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The oft-injured Davis has played in just 29 regular-season games and two play-in games for Dallas, where he arrived still recovering from an abdominal injury.
He then missed six weeks with an adductor strain and this season he has missed time with a calf strain and a groin injury.
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