The Dallas Mavericks’ season seemed to crack the moment Anthony Davis went down. At 15–25 and sliding fast, Dallas was preparing for a long-term absence that could quietly end its year and force the front office into survival mode.

Now, that assumption is being challenged. A new development surrounding Davis’ injury has shifted the Mavericks’ outlook and, more importantly, reopened trade conversations that once appeared off the table—putting Dallas’ deadline strategy back in play.

According to NBA Insider Shams Charania, Davis and his team reportedly consulted specialist Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles shortly after his initial diagnosis. Davis was told that he would not require any surgery and is now set to be re-evaluated in six weeks, rather than missing several months.

Technically, the door is still open, but this doesn’t change much for the Mavs‘ season. Currently ranked #12, even an optimistic timeline does little to alter the team’s position beyond the lottery odds. What it does change is leverage.

This medical update reframes Davis not as sunk cost, but as a moveable contract. As the Mavs move to a timeline centered around new cornerstone and #1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, the trade conversations around Davis have only heated up.

Even before his injury, reports linked him to the Toronto Raptors and, following the Trae Young trade, the Atlanta Hawks; however, these reports quieted after his surgery.

Now, with Davis on track to return by the time the playoffs start, the Mavs have renewed trade talks with “multiple” interested teams, reportedly. Davis even pushed back against the idea that his season was over. On X, he responded to multiple reports claiming his season was over with a simple message:

“Y’all better stop listening to all these lies on these apps!”

Only time will tell if teams bite on the Davis trade, and what a package for him could look like.

Anthony Davis Is Healthy Enough to Sell, But Still Too Risky to Trust Around the NBA

Avoiding surgery now won’t make Anthony Davis more durable or erase his extensive injury history. The forward has played just 29 games for the Mavericks, fewer than Cooper Flagg, despite joining the team almost eight months prior to the rookie.

However, no surgery means that Davis’ profile is intact enough for opposing front offices to squint and potentially talk themselves into the upside the forward has demonstrated in the past.

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A team can justify patience with a six-week reevaluation timeline, something that’s much harder to do with a lost season stamped due to surgical recovery.

During the time spent on the court, Davis has been productive, if a bit disappointing. He still averages solid numbers: 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks. However, the eye test reveals several concerns: he has repeatedly settled for tough shots on offense, struggled to impose himself through physical play, and appeared disengaged during transition defense.

He has generated minimal rim pressure and consistently lost authority on defense.

The isolation statistics reveal a striking contrast in offensive approach between Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg. Davis is converting on just 34.8% of his isolation possessions, a concerning figure that ranks in the 18th percentile league-wide.

More troubling is his efficiency of 0.70 PPP (points per possession), suggesting he’s struggling to create quality looks when isolated—evident in his 35.9% field goal percentage on these attempts.

What’s particularly noteworthy is Davis’s volume: 2.4 isolation possessions per game at an 11.5% frequency. For a player of his caliber, these numbers indicate either a decline in his one-on-one effectiveness or potentially suboptimal shot selection in isolation scenarios.

The low scoring frequency combined with high usage suggests he’s either passing out of these situations or settling for difficult attempts.

Perhaps a change in scenery would help the forward, but things are looking bleak. His massive $175.4 million contract heavily restricts any team wishing to trade for him, especially with the restrictions of the second apron already hamstringing any contender with a core already in place.

If a team believes that Davis can return late in the season and justify the long-term risk to themselves, Dallas should capitalize as long as the offer still stands.