Shortly after ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Atlanta Hawks had traded Trae Young to the Wizards, he confirmed what everyone suspected: that trading the guard means they can pursue another player with a "significant salary," like Anthony Davis. Their interest in AD is nothing new, but now that Young is gone, the front office could shift toward getting a deal done with Dallas.
It will be easier said than done, considering what the Hawks received in return for Davis. CJ McCollum is on a $30.7 million expiring contract, and Corey Kispert is making right under $14 million this season. They can't be reaggregated with other salaries in a trade before the deadline, so Atlanta will have to find another way to execute a Davis trade.
Zaccharie Risacher will have to be included in a deal, and as Marc Stein previously reported, the Hawks are willing to trade the 2024 No. 1 pick in the "right scenario." However, on Sunday, Stein noted that Atlanta doesn't think that a trade for Davis fits that description (subscription required).
Perhaps now that Young is gone, that will change. Charania wouldn't refer to AD as a "prime in-season trade target" for the Hawks if there weren't still a level of interest there, even knowing that it'd mean moving on from Risacher.
Moving Young also provides Atlanta with added financial flexibility to pursue a large salary over the next several months – with Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis as a prime in-season trade target.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 8, 2026
Hawks are reportedly still interested in trading for Anthony Davis
Along with Risacher, Atlanta would have to throw Luke Kennard and Kristaps Porziņġis into a trade, ironically sending the latter back to Dallas. Porziņġis has played only 17 games this season, recently returning from another injury absence. He's on an expiring contract, giving the front office another reason to trade him before the deadline.
You can debate whether it would make the most sense for the Hawks to trade Porziņġis, an injury-prone big man, for another, although when healthy, AD is the clear better option between the two.
Davis is also on a hefty contract, making $54.1 million this season, $58.5 million next season, and has a $62.8 million player option in the 2027-28 season. He could sign an extension with the Mavericks this summer. However, on Wednesday, The Athletic reported that AD's representatives (his agent is Rich Paul) don't believe that will happen in Dallas. His camp wants him traded to a team willing to extend him.
Trading for Davis and extending him could put the team in the opposite direction that it wants to go in, but the thought of a healthy AD helping the Hawks make a run in the East might be too much for the front office to ignore.