An Atlanta Hawks hypothetical trade for Anthony Davis

As reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Atlanta Hawks are among the teams interested in the services of Anthony Davis.

“Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks, another former NBA champion, is expected to be a critical trade target of several teams, including many of the East’s contenders,” Charania writes. “The Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are expected to be suitors for Davis, league sources told ESPN.

“The Mavericks are open to exploring the trade markets for Davis, center Daniel Gaffordand guards Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, sources said. Davis’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, has met with Mavericks interim co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, and requested clarity about whether the franchise wants to extend Davis in the offseason or trade him ahead of the deadline. Finley and Riccardi accepted the message and stated the franchise wants to keep its options open and view how the team plays for the next few weeks. They have not ruled out the possibility of an extension.”

Anthony Davis is an intriguing trade candidate because the upside is enormous. His defensive presence would be a massive upgrade over what the Hawks currently have inside, and that becomes even more valuable once Trae Young returns, which is expected to happen this month. Offensively, his fit next to playmakers like Young and Jalen Johnson would be seamless.

The concern, of course, is the injury history. Davis is perpetually dealing with something, and that risk is real. But it also creates a potential market opportunity for Atlanta. The price to acquire him should be significantly lower than what it would take to land a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, giving the Hawks a legitimate path to vault toward the top of the Eastern Conference while still keeping their best young assets.

Hawks Hypothetical Trade For Anthony Davis

Hawks Get: Anthony Davis

Mavericks Get: Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, 2026 first-round pick (least favorable ATL/SAS), 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected, least favorable MIL/NO)

This isn’t anywhere close to the massive haul the Bucks would demand for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but I don’t imagine the Mavericks will be able to fetch a whole lot more for Anthony Davis.

Davis is a superstar when he’s on the floor, but staying healthy has been a career-long battle. He’s about to turn 33, is signed through next season, and holds a $62 million player option for 2027–2028 — an option he could very easily choose to exercise depending on how things unfold. It’s not exactly a contract that tilts in the team’s favor.

Still, because the upside is enormous, Davis will require real assets. Porzingis and Kennard are on expiring deals, which should appeal to Dallas, and the 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected, least favorable of MIL/NO) is becoming more valuable by the day. The Pelicans are one of the worst teams in basketball, and the Bucks could join them if they move Antetokounmpo. There’s a very real possibility that pick ends up in the top 10 of the 2027 draft.

The Mavericks would almost certainly ask for a piece of Atlanta’s young core — Johnson, Okongwu, Daniels, or Risacher. Outside of Jalen Johnson, who should be completely untouchable, conversations around the others would be fair. But I’d be extremely cautious about giving up too much for an aging star with such an extensive injury history.