The harsh truth for the Dallas Mavericks is that December 15 cannot come soon enough. That is the date when most players in the league become eligible for trades, and for Dallas, it might mark the start of a much-needed reset. After parting ways with general manager Nico Harrison, the Mavericks must shift their focus toward rebuilding. And that future looks bleak unless they find a way to stockpile assets.
When Harrison made the Luka Doncic-for-Anthony Davis trade, he claimed the team had a two- to three-year championship window. That window never really opened. AD and Kyrie Irving have played only limited minutes together, and the pairing that was supposed to lead the Mavs to the Promised Land has fizzled out. Now, it looks like Anthony Davis could be the odd man out as Dallas looks to gather pieces for the future.
3 Teams That Can Save The Season With an Anthony Davis Trade
Here’s the situation: after the 2026 NBA Draft, the Mavericks won’t control their own pick again until 2031. That means this is the season to find young, cheap talent who can grow alongside Cooper Flagg.
Looking at the roster, six players are averaging double figures, and four of them are 27 or older. Flagg and Max Christie are the two young cornerstones the team can build around. There’s probably no quick fix for Dallas, but if they can acquire the right combination of picks and prospects, they could pivot around a generational 19-year-old talent like Flagg. Firing Harrison was the right move in that direction.
So which teams could help the Mavericks hit the reset button? Let’s break it down.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are trapped between eras. They have a two-year window to contend, but right now, they’re stuck in the middle of the Western Conference standings. The Warriors managed to retain Jonathan Kuminga, but is he a franchise building block or a trade chip? They’ll find out after January 15, when he becomes eligible to be traded.
Pulling off an Anthony Davis trade would be difficult, but not impossible. Golden State owns multiple first-round picks and a few promising young players who could interest Dallas. Adding AD to a veteran core led by Stephen Curry might be the bold move the Warriors need to stay relevant. Whether they have the guts to make that move is another story.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a superstar entering his prime in Anthony Edwards, and he’s ready to compete for championships now. Julius Randle has been solid, but he’s not on Anthony Davis’s level. If Minnesota wants to push all-in for the next two years, trading for AD would be a clear upgrade.
Because they already have Rudy Gobert anchoring the paint, the Wolves could allow Davis to slide into his preferred power forward role. Edwards has never played alongside a talent as complete as Davis, and that partnership could be the key to breaking through to the NBA Finals.
The Timberwolves have made the Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, but the competition in the West keeps getting tougher. Adding AD could be the final piece that turns them from contenders into favorites.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have been one of the pleasant surprises of the early season. They started with five straight wins, only to drop three in a row, reminding everyone how volatile the East is this year. With the Eastern Conference wide open, the Bulls have to ask themselves: should they capitalize on early success and swing for the fences?
Chicago has all its future draft picks intact, plus a top-14-protected first-rounder from Portland in the 2026 Draft. If the season ended today, that would project as the 15th overall pick.
The biggest challenge would be matching salaries. To make a trade work, Chicago would likely have to part with Nikola Vucevic and Coby White, along with a few additional contracts. AD is the superior player, but Vucevic has been more durable. The question is whether the Bulls are willing to gamble on Davis’s health for a chance to make a real playoff push.
The Last Word on an Anthony Davis Trade
Anthony Davis remains a franchise-altering player when healthy. For teams like the Warriors, Timberwolves, and Bulls, trading for him could change their entire trajectory. For the Mavericks, it’s about accepting reality and rebuilding smartly. Either way, December 15 might be the most important date of the NBA season.
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