Why Anthony Davis trade to Raptors seems unlikely

The Toronto Raptors have been linked to the Dallas Mavericks centre in recent weeks.

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis before the game against the Golden State Warriors. | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The Toronto Raptors are in need of a big man on the trade market over the next couple of weeks.

There have been several centres linked to the Raptors, including Mavericks All-Star Anthony Davis, who was acquired by the team on Feb. 1 from the Los Angeles Lakers for Luka Doncic. Davis is one of the biggest names on the trade market that's linked to the Raptors, but the team should pass on trying to bring the former No. 1 overall pick to Toronto.

Davis suffered a groin injury in the team's Christmas Day loss against the Golden State Warriors. The injuries he has suffered over the course of his career are beginning to catch up to him and that should be an immediate red flag for the Raptors.

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis before the game against the Golden State Warriors. | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Davis injury should turn Raptors off on trade with Mavericks

Davis has only played in 25 out of a possible 65 games for the Mavericks since being acquired in the trade for Doncic. The team needs Davis in order to succeed, but his absence has led Dallas to a 12-20 start on the season.

The Raptors make sense as a team to acquire a centre like Davis because they don't have much depth behind Jakob Poeltl, who is currently dealing with a back injury. However, if Davis is also frequently injured, that would defeat the purpose of adding depth behind Poeltl.

The Raptors would likely have to trade Poeltl in order to acquire Davis anyway, so it just seems like Toronto and Dallas would be swapping each other's problems in a lose-lose scenario. In this case, the Raptors would be the bigger loser because they would be losing more value in other pieces going to the Mavs in a hypothetical deal.

Davis' injury also increases the need for the Mavs to keep Daniel Gafford, who has been linked to the Raptors in the past.

Ultimately, the Raptors need some healthy big men, and Davis just simply isn't that at this moment in time. It remains to be seen when Davis will return for the Mavericks after this latest groin injury. But it's safe to say that he is not what the Raptors are looking for.

In the meantime, the Raptors are back in action as they take on Alex Saar and the Washington Wizards. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET inside Capital One Arena. Fans can watch the game on TSN Sports, Monumental Sports Network or stream it on NBA League Pass.