Dallas Mavericks superstar Anthony Davis has been among the most frequently mentioned names in trade chatter around the league. With the 10-time All-Star garnering a lot of interest on the trade market, his brief stint with the Mavericks may be coming to an end.
Among the many teams Davis has been linked with, the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors appear to be likely landing spots. However, even the Atlanta Hawks have generated some intrigue among these.
The Hawks were initially projected to be one of the best teams in the league following their offseason roster-building project. Unfortunately, since Trae Young went down with an injury early in the campaign, the Hawks have been largely inconsistent.
The Hawks organization committed a lot to making the franchise competitive this season. Considering their intention of even making a run at the title, their current position (eighth in the East) doesn’t instill much confidence.
Given their need to strike a balance and return to title-contending shape, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley presented a trade package that would help Atlanta land Anthony Davis. Here’s Buckley’s trade proposal:
Proposed Trade Details
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Anthony Davis
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, Asa Newell, 2027 first-round pick (top-4 protected, via NOP or MIL)
How Does This Deal Impact The Maverricks?
For the Dallas Mavericks, parting with Anthony Davis has been on the cards since earlier in the season. With the team’s poor performance exacerbating the situation, sources have even hinted at a potential rebuild, which would begin with a complete roster overhaul.
This trade scenario would be the first step in this direction. With the acquisition of a first-round pick, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, and Asa Newell, the Mavericks would gain some solid assets to proceed with retooling around Cooper Flagg.
Among the player assets, Porzingis’ addition seems to be the most noteworthy. Given his experience with the Mavs’ organization, along with his recent mention in trade rumors, the Latvian center may view this move positively.
With averages of 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 48.7% shooting from the field and 36.4% from three-point range this season, he could be a meaningful contributor. For Dallas, however, Porzingis’ $30.7 million expiring contract has a lot more merit from a rebuilding perspective.
Along with Porzingis, the Mavericks would be acquiring a lethal sharpshooter in Kennard and a promising young forward in Newell.
Kennard’s arrival addresses Dallas’ need for perimeter shooting. Considering this season’s averages of 7.2 points and 2.3 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range, along with an $11.0 million expiring contract, the Mavericks may enjoy multiple benefits by acquiring him.
Meanwhile, Newell, as Buckley noted, has proven effective in limited minutes. His averages of 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds may not be promising, but his shooting splits of 57.9% from the field and 52.0% from beyond the arc may be worth cultivating.
How Do The Hawks Benefit From This Trade?
For the Hawks, this trade serves to bring stability back to the roster. In Trae Young’s absence, Jalen Johnson has risen to stardom, emerging as the franchise cornerstone. Unfortunately, the supporting cast hasn’t been as impressive.
By acquiring Anthony Davis, the Hawks would be adding one of the best two-way players in the league to their lineup. Buckley rationalized this by stating:
“Davis would immediately make the Hawks even more disruptive on defense while giving them a clear half-court identity on offense as part of what would be a potent pick-and-roll game with him and Young. His arrival alone might help Atlanta make the jump to top-10 efficiency ratings on both ends, which history regards as a requirement for contention.”
The notion of pairing Young with Anthony Davis is truly enticing. With an elite pick-and-roll point guard being paired by a versatile, yet athletic big man, Atlanta could become a nightmare for opposing teams.
Although it could be optimistic to suggest that Davis could single-handedly transform the Hawks into a top-10 team in terms of efficiency, his impact on their overall performance is understandable. Given this season’s averages of 20.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game, when healthy, Anthony Davis remains a game-changing asset.
Acquiring Anthony Davis Remains A Risk
As impressive as Anthony Davis is when he is healthy, there is an innate risk of his missing time during the regular season.
Davis has been one of the most injury-prone players in recent years. Given the debilitating impact this has had on teams he has been a part of, it is evident that acquiring him remains a risk.
While this trade scenario could prove beneficial for the Hawks, it is a double-edged sword.
Apart from Anthony Davis’ health issues, Atlanta also has to manage Trae Young’s availability. In the worst-case scenario, the Hawks would see both their superstars out with injury. Based on how dependent the team could be on their superstar pair, the result would leave Atlanta in a vulnerable position, similar to their current standing.
Although Buckley’s trade package seems logical, there are some inherent shortcomings linked with acquiring Anthony Davis himself. With this in mind, it would not be wise for Atlanta to pursue a deal involving the 10-time All-Star.
