Desperate Eastern Conference team still interested in Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade

The Toronto Raptors are still among those keeping tabs on Anthony Davis despite his injury.

Oct 26, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) controls the ball during the game between the Mavericks and the Raptors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Many thought that when Anthony Davis' hand injury was announced to keep him out for six weeks, it would end any and all trade chatter involving him. It's his fourth major injury in 11 months since arriving in Dallas, and his contract and age are going in the wrong direction for someone who's injured that often.

However, that hasn't been the case. Whether teams believe they can acquire him for a discounted price or not, there continues to be a lot of discussion about whether he will be moved. And among those still interested in trading him is the Toronto Raptors, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

“Sources say Toronto is among the teams that has maintained trade interest in Davis, but any firm offer that the Raptors make is expected to be built around the contract of Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl alongside RJ Barrett in a Davis deal," Stein wrote. "Even if the Raptors proved willing to attach a future first-round pick to those contracts, such a deal would provide scant financial relief for Dallas.”

This quote can be compounded with Stein's report earlier in the week that the Raptors are being pressured into win-now mode.

"Toronto's various discussions involving those players had led to a belief among numerous rival teams that its post-Masai Ujiri front office, now headed by Bobby Webster, is facing some win-now pressure to do something as splashy as last winter's acquisition of Brandon Ingram," he wrote over the weekend.

Jan 6, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) reacts after being fouled against the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

READ MORE: Battered Mavericks host Utah Jazz on second night of back-to-back

Why the Mavericks Should Consider Better Options

The only way the Mavericks consider a package of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley/Jakob Poeltl is if it gets rid of Caleb Martin and they receive multiple first-round picks in return. Davis may not be a good contract, but that Quickley contract is arguably the worst in the NBA. He's making $32.5 million this year and each of the next three seasons after that, pushing him through the 2028-29 season.

That's a lot to pay for a guard averaging 16.5 PPG, and one who has never really been that efficient. RJ Barrett has actually been pretty good this year, often being the difference in the Raptors winning or losing games, and his contract would expire after next year.

But the Mavericks want to prioritize expiring contracts to help clean up their books. Davis is set to make more than $58 million next year and then has a player option for nearly $62.8 million in 2027-28. And he's seeking an extension on top of that. If they don't want to pay him that, they're not going to want to split that money up between Barrett and Quickley.

READ MORE: 3 overreactions as Mavericks lose Cooper Flagg to injury in loss to Nuggets

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

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

• Mavericks announce season-ending news for rising young player

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