The Mavericks announced on Tuesday that Anthony Davis won't need surgery on his injured left hand and is expected to return in six weeks. In other words, the Atlanta Hawks could still trade for him before the Feb. 5 deadline. Jake Fischer said on a livestream for Bleacher Report that he thinks the team is "still sniffing around the periphery of what Dallas could be getting for their big man right now."
NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed on Wednesday that the Mavericks are "in active trade conversations with a few teams regarding Davis," but that a deal will only happen (subscription required) if it's one that Dallas "deems favorable." Stein added that the Mavs are telling those teams that they're "prepared" to wait until the offseason to revisit trade talks.
Atlanta has Kristaps Porziņġis' expiring contract it could offer in a trade, as well as Luke Kennard, but that wouldn't be enough to match AD's $54 million salary. The Hawks could throw Zaccharie Risacher into the deal, but Stein reiterated that isn't something they want to do for Davis.
So, while Atlanta is still "in" on Davis, a trade won't be easy. Dallas isn't set on offloading AD's contract, and the Hawks don't want to move on from their 2024 No. 1 pick for him. Perhaps that will change in the coming weeks.
Hawks are still interested in Anthony Davis trade
If you were against an AD trade before he got hurt, it's safe to say that you're even more against a trade now. Yes, he is expected to play again this season, but there is no guarantee he will. There is also no guarantee that he will remain healthy if he does return, as Mavericks fans have learned over the past year alone.
One of the primary motivations behind a Davis trade for teams in the East before the deadline is the hope that he will help Atlanta make a playoff run this year, before Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton return next season. That doesn't mean it'd be championship-or-bust for the Hawks if they were to get him, but now is the time to make noise.
There is an even greater risk to an AD trade now than there was, and that doesn't account for the extension he will be eligible for over the offseason. No matter how good he can be, there will always be the worry that he will get injured, even when he's healthy. It's hard to put much trust in a player like that, especially one who is 32.
None of that has kept Atlanta away, but Stein noted that none of the trade talks Dallas has had about Davis "have made it to the proverbial deal zone." Fischer also said the Hawks aren't pushing to make a trade. Perhaps they're just keeping the option open, as there is a difference between being interested and engaging in serious talks.