Onsi Saleh silences Anthony Davis rumors in Trae Young trade presser

After the latest news frenzy, the Anthony Davis trade rumor beacons are fully ablaze in Atlanta.

Shams Charania reported early Tuesday afternoon that Anthony Davis may be finished for the year after a lingering injury concern that was feared to require surgery, but this was quickly shot down by Davis himself, resulting in a second report confirming a secondary medical opinion that alluded to a potential return for Davis before season's end.

The back-and-forth action may have thrown Hawks fans for a loop, ultimately resulting in the widespread belief that Davis is squarely in the sights of Atlanta's GM, Onsi Saleh. Unfortunately for Davis truthers, Saleh may have other ideas for the team's roster construction, at least in the immediate future.

In a recent interview, Saleh confirmed two key issues. First, he loves the bigs on the roster (as he should - Mo Gueye, KP, and Okongwu are a force to be reckoned with – when healthy). Second, he is averse to immediate action to remedy their current frontcourt issue.

This begs one extremely pressing question, the only caveat to Saleh's statement – is Anthony Davis reasonably a long-term asset, or is he more of a short-term rental for teams looking to immediately contend?

Do the Hawks view Anthony Davis as a long-term asset?

At face value, Anthony Davis is an aging star with an extensive injury history, especially in recent years. The notion that AD is akin to a glass cannon isn't far-fetched in the slightest.

This isn't entirely a knock against Davis as much as it is a (nearly) universal truth. As players age, even the smallest of injuries can linger for weeks, even months longer than they would have a decade prior for the very same player.

Therefore, Anthony Davis is unlikely to be seen as a long-term solution - more so, in Onsi Saleh's own words, a "quick fix" for a team short on frontcourt depth looking to make an immediate push.

While it would certainly be entertaining to see AD in a Hawks uniform, chances are he ends the season in a Mavs uniform if no team is willing to pay a high enough price tag for the star big. Especially given Onsi's praise for his current bigs - chiefly the youngster Mo Gueye and emerging star Onyeka Okongwu - it seems unlikely that piling assets for an aging star is centered on Saleh's radar.