Mavericks eyeing former No. 1 pick in potential Anthony Davis trade

The Dallas Mavericks are expected to explore the trade market for star forward/center Anthony Davis, as the 32-year-old wants an extension, and the Mavericks want players who will actually be on the floor. Davis is still a great player when he's available, but that's the biggest issue, as he's played just 17 of a possible 66 games since arriving in Dallas, fighting two separate adductor strains and a calf strain.

Rumors have spread that the Atlanta Hawks are among the teams that may be interested in him. Despite going down on Christmas with a groin/adductor injury, Chris Haynes reported on Amazon Prime that not only are the Hawks interested in still trading for Davis, but that they may include recent first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in the trade.

"Sources tell me that the Atlanta Hawks remain very intrigued with the possibility of acquiring Anthony Davis via trade. Now, the Hawks, out of all of the suitors out there, they possess a pretty attractive asset package that could make things interesting, but if you look at where AD is at in his career, he has this season and next season left, and after that, he can become a free agent with the player option, so any teams that try to acquire him will have to really consider giving him an extension.

"With that being said, if a deal was able to materialize between the Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks, I was told, it would not involve Trae Young. Dallas would likely want expiring deals, young assets, and picks, and probably to include the number one pick from last season, Zacc Risacher."

"If a deal was able to materialize ... I was told it would not involve Trae Young."@ChrisBHaynes hops on Nightcap to discuss a potential Anthony Davis to the Hawks trade 👀 pic.twitter.com/2whYAHK8cP
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) December 27, 2025

What Would a Mavericks-Hawks Trade Involving Zaccharie Risacher Look Like?

If the Hawks are actually willing to trade Zaccharie Risacher, who is arguably the weakest recent first overall pick since Anthony Bennett in 2013 (Markelle Fultz could be as well, but he was ruined by a nerve issue), a trade becomes a little easier to figure out because salaries are a little easier to match. Here is what a potential trade could look like.

Hawks Receive: Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams
Mavericks Receive: Kristaps Porzingis, Zaccharie Risacher, Luke Kennard, 2026 first-round pick (ATL's own), 2031 second-round pick (ATL)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Dante Exum, 2029 second-round pick (via CLE, from ATL)

Here's why each team would do this trade.

The Atlanta Hawks get an elite talent in Anthony Davis in place of Kristaps Porzingis, who is a shell of his former self, while also getting ball-handling help in D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Williams, as they don't have many quality backup guards.

The Mavericks receive $41.7 million in expiring contracts from Porzingis and Kennard while betting on a young talent in Risacher, who could grow into a quality starter. They also get another first-round pick this year in an elite draft, thinking that Davis may not play enough and could sink the Hawks out of the playoffs. They also send Dante Exum, who won't play this year, to the Nets so they can sign Ryan Nembhard to a standard contract.

Getting Davis and Russell off the books for next year (Russell has a player option, but with how badly he's playing, it's hard to imagine that he doesn't pick that option up) while only adding on Risacher would save the Mavericks nearly $50.6 million in salary next year. They're currently projected to be $15.4 million over the luxury tax, $8.1 million over the first tax apron, and just about $4.6 million away from the second tax apron. Getting that salary off would push them $35 million BELOW the tax line, which would give them a lot more room to play with.

And the Nets get a free second-round pick for being able to trade for and waive Exum.

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2025-26 season

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

More Dallas Mavericks News

Atlanta Hawks have 'explored' path to trade for Mavericks' Anthony Davis

Mavericks announce season-ending news for rising young player

3 overreactions as Cooper Flagg's brilliance leads Mavericks to win over Nuggets

Rich Paul wants 'clarity' from Mavericks about plans for Anthony Davis