Dallas Mavericks’ center and rumored Atlanta Hawks trade target Anthony Davis “sustained ligament damage in his left hand” and “could miss a number of months,” according to Shams Charania.
There have been murmurs linking Davis to the Hawks all season, but these whispers turned to credible reports after the Trae Young trade. The drama intensified when Atlanta waited over 24 hours between announcing the trade and formally executing it, sparking speculation that they had solicited offers for the newly acquired CJ McCollum or Corey Kispert.
With Davis set to miss extended time, and potentially the rest of the season, a blockbuster trade is no longer a realistic option.
Hawks must pivot to a new center option
The Hawks do need a center, but Davis was never the answer. The 2020 Finals champion is a fantastic player, but his career has been marred by horrible injury luck. He’s played in over 60 games in just one season this decade, and this injury could limit him to just 20 games played this season. He is simply too risky for a team as young and versatile as Atlanta.
There are plenty of options available, although admittedly none as talented as Davis.
Jusuf Nurkic is the safe option. He’s shined for a Utah Jazz squad devoid of starting-level talent other than Lauri Markkanen. Nurkic is averaging 10.4 points and 9.8 rebounds in just 25.8 minutes a night, and the on/off numbers identify him as a critical part of the team's (limited) success. Most critically, Nurkic brings physicality and height to a team that lacks both.
The Hawks are grabbing offensive boards at the third-lowest rate and defensive boards at the 12th-lowest rate in the league. Nurkic would instantly fix this problem. When he’s on the floor, the Jazz grab 3.2% more O-boards and 9.9% more D-boards. For context, his impact on the defensive glass launches Utah from the second-worst team in the league to the best by a comfortable margin. Could he do this in Atlanta and help spur a win streak?
Ivica Zubac is another intriguing option on a Clippers team that is close to crumbling. The team has no direction, no young stars, and no draft picks. At this point, liquidating Zubac for some shred of promise over the next few seasons seems like the right move – if Los Angeles can get the return package they want.
There is no indication that the Clippers are shopping Zubac, which means Atlanta would likely have to overpay to get the Bosnian center. Still, it is worth a call at the very least.
If Davis’s injury sidelines the center for months, or even just this month, the odds of a trade drop to zero. Atlanta will have to wait until the offseason to pursue the Mavs’ center, if that is still their preferred course of action.