Anthony Davis prefers to remain with Mavericks

For all the noise around his future, Anthony Davis isn’t pushing to get out of Dallas.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on NBA Today that Davis’ preference is to stay with the Mavericks and sign a contract extension this summer, even as the franchise wrestles with a longer-term vision.

“AD’s preference would be to stay in Dallas and to get that extension this summer,” MacMahon said. “Now, does that make sense for a team trying to build around a teenage prodigy (Cooper Flagg)? I think you can answer that question on your own.”

That tension is at the heart of the Mavericks’ dilemma. Davis is owed $54.1 million this season and $58.5 million next year, with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. Any extension would push significant money into his mid-30s and overlap with Flagg’s next contract, a risky equation given Davis’ durability history.

MacMahon added that Dallas is attempting to cultivate a trade market, but acknowledged the obstacles.

“The durability issues matter, but the dollars matter more,” he said. “And midseason, trying to line up a trade and a long-term extension is very difficult.”