Do Knicks have interest in Mavericks' Anthony Davis?

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban has made it clear that they aren't planning on trading Anthony Davis. If he changes his mind, however, the New York Knicks would be interested in the star forward.

In his Saturday night mailbag, Ian Begley of SNY-TV in New York reported he's "sure" the Knicks would at least check in on Davis because they're in win-now mode. New York (9-6), which reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season, was fifth in the conference entering Sunday.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, should soon be entering a full-blown rebuild. Dallas fell to 5-13 this season after losing 102-96 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. 

Would it make sense for the Knicks to trade for Anthony Davis? 

When healthy, Davis is one of the top players in the NBA. In 14 seasons, the former Los Angeles Lakers star has made 10 All-Star Games and has won a championship. But the 32-year-old veteran is injury-prone. 

He has played in 75 or more regular-season games just three times in his career. The 6-foot-10, 253-pounder hasn't played since Oct. 29 because of a lingering left calf issue. Davis is expected to be re-evaluated soon.

Plus, should New York make a blockbuster deal when it doesn't have much draft capital to spend? The Knicks have one first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and none in 2027. (They could have another first-rounder in 2026 if the 1-15 Washington Wizards don't land a pick in the top eight of the draft, but that looks unlikely.)

Despite that, the Knicks may be willing to take a risk on Davis. He could help improve their defense. Entering Sunday, New York was tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for 16th in the league in points allowed (116.1). 

Davis, of course, is a defensive standout. He has led the league in blocks three times and earned three first-team All-Defensive selections in his career. In five games this season, he has averaged a stellar 1.2 blocks per game.

The Knicks would be taking a gamble if they traded for Davis, but title contenders often do. And with New York seeking its first championship since the 1972-73 season, that'll make the team even more willing to take a big swing.