Mavericks Quietly Gain from Anthony Davis Trade

Despite widespread criticism, the Mavericks made the best of a bad situation in dealing the injury-prone star.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The Dallas Mavericks' trade of Anthony Davis in 2026 will be widely criticized, but given the team's circumstances at the time, the deal actually wasn't as bad as it may seem. While Davis never stayed healthy during his tenure in Dallas, the Mavericks were able to get off his long-term contract, add some draft capital, and clear significant salary cap space moving forward - outcomes that were about as positive as they could have hoped for in a difficult situation.

Why it matters

The Mavericks were in a tough spot with the injury-plagued Davis, who never lived up to expectations after being acquired in a high-profile trade. Though the deal will be heavily scrutinized, the Mavericks managed to mitigate their losses and set themselves up better for the future by shedding Davis' contract and acquiring additional assets.

The details

After the Mavericks' disastrous trade of Luka Doncic, the team was desperate to make changes and the Anthony Davis experiment never panned out. Davis struggled with injuries throughout his time in Dallas and was unable to consistently contribute on the court. Despite the widespread criticism the trade will receive, the Mavericks were able to get off Davis' long-term deal, add some draft picks, and create more financial flexibility moving forward - outcomes that, given the circumstances, were about as positive as the team could have hoped for.

  • The Anthony Davis trade occurred in 2026.

The players

Anthony Davis

An injury-prone NBA star who was traded to the Mavericks but was unable to stay healthy or contribute consistently during his time in Dallas.

Nico Harrison

The Mavericks' general manager who oversaw the Anthony Davis trade, which was widely criticized but ultimately helped the team's long-term outlook.

Luka Doncic

The Mavericks' former star player who was traded away in a disastrous move prior to the Anthony Davis trade.

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The takeaway

While the Anthony Davis trade will be heavily criticized, the Mavericks were able to get out from under his long-term contract, add some draft capital, and create more financial flexibility - outcomes that, given the team's difficult circumstances at the time, were about as positive as they could have hoped for.