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Bleacher Report Makes Bold Anthony Davis, Mavericks Prediction For Coming NBA Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 4:39 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks shocked the sports world in February by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Mavericks, who made the NBA Finals last year, acquired Anthony Davis and Max Christie from the Lakers in the blockbuster Doncic trade.

Davis only appeared in nine regular-season games with the Mavericks after the Doncic deal because of an adductor injury. He put up 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.

Dallas beat the Sacramento Kings in the 9-10 play-in game but lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in the 8-10 play-in game.

The Mavericks missed the playoffs this year and lost Kyrie Irving to a season-ending ACL tear in March.

By winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, Dallas has the first pick in this year's draft, and the franchise is widely expected to draft Duke's Cooper Flagg.

Bleacher Report's Dan Favale believes the Mavericks should build around Flagg, which is why he predicts Davis will finish next season on a different team.

"The Mavs may not care to admit it just yet, but Flagg and their surrounding circumstances have thrust them into a different timeline—one that no longer jibes with the 32-year-old Davis' own," Favale wrote.

"If the trade rumors don't start buzzing over the summer, they will begin in earnest prior to February's deadline."

Since Davis doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, he can't control his future.

Davis, Irving and Klay Thompson played together in one game in 2024-25. Davis was injured in his Dallas debut against the Houston Rockets, and Irving tore his left ACL versus the Kings.

It will be fascinating to see how the Mavericks fare next season with Davis, Thompson and Flagg leading the way while Irving rehabs his injury.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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