Anthony Davis Trade Looms for Struggling Mavericks

Merlin sees Dallas at a crossroads: with Nico Harrison fired, the Mavericks must decide what to do with the roster he built — and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon says governor Patrick Dumont will "at least" hold talks about trading Anthony Davis. The Harrison plan for a defense-first squad hasn’t produced results (16-28 since the Luka trade), and Dallas now needs to prioritize developing Cooper Flagg while wrestling with Davis’s age, injuries and massive contract. Merlin senses the market will be chilly. Davis remains one of the few movable stars, but his $54M+ salary, injury history, limited draft currency and the apron-era rules mean Dallas may have to "take what (they) can get." Expect hard bargains and creative salary swaps as the Feb. 5 deadline nears.