The Anthony Davis Trade Landscape After the Nico Harrison Firing

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The abrupt firing of Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison has sent a seismic shockwave through the NBA, placing his center-piece acquisition, Anthony Davis, squarely on the trade block. Harrison’s legacy is now defined by the disastrous Luka Dončić trade—a deal centered on Davis—which the organization seems intent on erasing to build around new No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.

With the new front office tasked with course correction and the franchise facing a disastrous 3-8 start, trading Davis has become the most logical way to reset the organization’s timeline and salary structure.

Here is a breakdown of the new trade motivations and the most viable landing spots for Anthony Davis.

The New Mavericks’ Motivation: A Complete Reset

Nico Harrison’s vision was to build a defense-first team anchored by the championship pedigree of Anthony Davis. With Harrison gone and Davis missing the majority of games due to injury since the trade, that vision is dead.

The new front office’s priorities are clear:

Clear the Runway for Cooper Flagg: The top priority is shifting the roster to fit the young star. Davis, an older, max-contract big man with a long injury history, is not a good long-term fit next to Flagg, who is also best utilized at power forward.
Recoup Draft Assets: Harrison shipped out valuable future first-round picks (2027, 2029) in the Dončić trade. Trading Davis for draft capital is the quickest way to restock the cupboard and give the franchise flexibility in the late 2020s.
Achieve Financial Flexibility: Davis is owed approximately $175 million over the next three seasons (including a player option). Moving him would provide major salary cap relief and help Dallas avoid the crippling luxury tax penalties associated with the second apron.

Top 3 Potential Trade Destinations for Anthony Davis

A trade is not imminent while Davis remains sidelined with a calf injury, but once he returns to health, trade talks are expected to intensify between the Mavericks and several interested contenders looking for an immediate star upgrade.

Potential Suitor	Why the Trade Makes Sense	Potential Assets/Pillars of a Deal
1. Chicago Bulls	Hometown Hero & Defensive Anchor. The Bulls are off to a surprisingly hot start, but lack the elite rim protection and star power to truly contend. Davis is a Chicago native and would instantly make them a defensive juggernaut in the East.	Expiring Contracts + Picks: Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Kevin Huerter (to create salary cap space for Dallas), and a desirable future unprotected first-round pick (e.g., 2029).
2. Miami Heat	Elite Defensive Duo. Pat Riley is always looking to swing for a star. Pairing Davis with Bam Adebayo would create the NBA’s most versatile and formidable defensive frontcourt. Davis’s championship experience is a perfect fit for the Heat Culture.	Young Talent + Picks: Tyler Herro (a valuable young scorer who doesn’t fit the Heat’s core timeline), along with multiple future first-round picks.
3. Toronto Raptors	The Big Swing. The Raptors are rebuilding, but have all their future draft picks and could be tempted to take a huge risk to vault back into the playoff picture. Davis fills a massive hole at center/power forward.	Young Vets + Picks: RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl (to match salary), plus two future first-round picks. This provides Dallas with two young, useful perimeter players to develop alongside Flagg.

The Timeline and Immediate Future

The Mavericks’ interim management of Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will be in frequent dialogue with Davis and his agent, Rich Paul, over the next couple of months to gauge his long-term interest and his trade stance. The most likely window for a trade remains the February trade deadline, though a deal to offload Davis’s contract sooner could be beneficial for salary cap reasons.

The central question is no longer if Anthony Davis will be traded, but what the new front office will prioritize in return: maximizing the short-term quality of players, or maximizing the volume of future draft capital to support the Cooper Flagg era.