4 teams desperate enough to still make Anthony Davis trade despite injury

A lot of news came out Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis January 13. Initial reports suggested that it would require surgery on a hand injury and would miss the remainder of the regular season. Then it was announced that Davis does not need surgeryand he will instead be reassessed in six weeks.

Before the injury-prone big man suffered another medical issue, he appeared to be well on his way to being traded before NBA trade deadline. Davis was involved in Luka Dončić deal just last year. It was a shocking move when it happened, and time proved it was a mistake on the Mavericks’ end.

Davis’ injury history and the Mavericks’ struggles led to Davis hitting the trade block less than a year after being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the concerns surrounding the former No. 1 overall pick, Davis remains one of the most talented players in the NBA when healthy, meaning he was one of the major trade targets this year before he injured his hand.

It was initially assumed that the trade market would disappear when Davis got hurt. Not only will he miss extended time and therefore not be able to contribute much this year, but it is crystal clear that he is made of glass and will battle injuries for the rest of his career. However, Shams Charania reported that there there are still teams with interest.

Davis could return for the playoffs, and interested teams will be hoping he can contribute moving forward. Davis’ situation makes the potential trade more than unique, but who are the top teams that would make sense as potential trade destinations for the Kentucky product?

The Atlanta Hawks have already made the biggest trade of the 2025-26 season. They traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards almost nothing. Young’s future with the team was in doubt, but there it was an incredibly overwhelming comeback just to get CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, and no draft capital in return.

The Hawks could redeem themselves by trading a minipackage to the Mavericks for Davis. Davis’ contract and injury concerns mean it shouldn’t take a big trade offer to acquire him. A deal centered around injury-prone big man Kristaps Porzingis could make sense.

The young trade is resetting the franchise and likely won’t end it until next year. Come next season, Davis will be healthy and could help the team move forward.

The Golden State Warriors are an aging team and are looking to push for another championship before franchise legends Stephen Curry and Draymond Green retire. Now, Davis will be easier said than done because of his huge contract, but he would be a good fit for this team.

He fits into the timeline of an older roster, which also includes Jimmy Butler and Al Horford. While reports suggest that Davis wants his next team to extend his contract, the Warriors could get Davis without sacrificing an arm and a leg for him, and then they could avoid extending him if they don’t want him to stay long-term.

The Warriors need help inside, but Davis would also fit the scheme as a big man who can play on the perimeter and work outside, both offensively and defensively. The Warriors need help to make the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference. The fact that Davis’ injury timeline won’t keep him out as long as originally expected only means that Golden State could have even more interest than previously thought.

The Detroit Pistons surprised many and became the best team in the Eastern Conference. Just two years ago, the team tied the record for consecutive losing streaks. Now, their 28-10 mark is second best in the entire NBA. The team is still young and not yet battle-tested.

A player with championship experience like Davis could really take the Pistons to the next level. Upon his return before the playoffs, he could be the piece that takes the team to the next level, even if he is on a minutes limit. The Pistons are still young enough that Davis can help them contend for years to come.

While Davis isn’t a deep shooter, he has more shooting ability than many players at his position. This could help improve Detroit’s biggest weakness, which is jump shooting. He would also fit the defensive mindset of the team that is fourth in points allowed.

The Brooklyn Nets have surplus draft assets and young players they could trade, but they shouldn’t require that to acquire Davis due to his likely low trade value. What the Nets have to offer is cap space, which will make it easier to pick up Davis’ contract, as well as potentially extend his contract.

The Nets are a young team far from contention, but Davis could help them get back on track. The Nets drafted five players in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, but only Danny Wolf is a big man, and none of the five primarily play Davis’ natural power forward position.

Young players struggle on defense and miss a lot of shots, but Davis is an elite rim protector who can cover youngsters at the rim, and he’s a solid rebounder who can clean up the mess on the offensive glass. He can also carry a heavy load on offense for a team that has relied heavily on Michael Porter Jr. this season. The Nets are ready to be trade term sellers. Rumors even suggested it Porter could be traded soon. However, they actually make sense as a replacement for Davis.