The Anthony Davis trade saga took many turns on Tuesday.
Before the Dallas Mavericks released their official statement on Davis’ plans to recover from his recent hand injury, a report left many questioning what was next.
As the situation unfolded, a few key details unfolded, offering the latest on Davis’ ongoing trade saga with the Mavericks, over one year since he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Luka Doncic deal.
Clearing the Air on Surgery
At first, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Davis would undergo surgery to repair the ligament damage in his hand. Initially, it seemed that Davis’ season was coming to an end, unless he landed on a contender that could give him a chance to offer a boost for a playoff run.
Davis took to social media to call out the “lies.” Hours later, the report was corrected.
“Anthony Davis will not require surgery on his injured hand after a second opinion with specialist Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles on Tuesday,” Charania wrote on X. “[He] will be re-evaluated in six weeks.”
It’s too early to call it a season for Davis. In six weeks, all parties will have a better idea of where he’s at.
The Phones Are Working
There doesn’t seem to be any question about the Dallas Mavericks’ willingness to move on from Anthony Davis at this time.
The star center’s biggest supporter, Nico Harrison, was removed from the front office months ago, which signaled that a split could be on the horizon. That’s not to say the Mavs are ready to do whatever it takes to wash away the Luka-AD trade that earns them criticism every day.
According to Marc Stein, “a bad Davis deal does not actually move things on for anyone associated with the franchise.” The veteran’s camp is reportedly pushing for a change of scenery to begin working on a new deal. The Mavs don’t need to move on from Davis. They haven’t been that competitive with him. They don’t seem that competitive without him. And he’s not in a contract year.
Which Teams Have Interest?
The Toronto Raptors have been one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, shocking their peers. Not many understood their way of navigating through the trade market last season, striking win-now moves, but it’s all coming together. Could a proven champ like Davis be the final piece? The North is thinking about it.
Then there’s the Sacramento Kings, who tend to have interest in every notable name, but are still searching for a true direction. As the Kings look to move on from some of their highly-paid veterans, they remain relevant in the Davis market.
After trading away Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks were quickly viewed as favorites to go after Davis. Of course, that was before his latest setback. The Hawks don’t seem out on Davis at this time, so they should remain a team to watch.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Read the full article here
