Anthony Davis trade mistake the Hawks can’t make

The month of December was not kind to Atlanta Hawksas they have lost a lot over the past few weeks and dropped to 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Even with Trae Young returns from MCL injury which kept him out of the rotation for more than a month, the Hawks failed to get into the win column, with a seven-game losing streak that dropped their record to 15-19. The problem hasn’t been the offense for the most part, but the defense that has let Atlanta down during this stretch of games. Also, Kristaps Porzingis, one of their biggest additions in the offseason, barely played due to illness.

With the recent loss, it could lead to a sign of desperation on the Hawks end, leading to in trade rumors for Anthony Davis. The Dallas Mavericks‘ The star big man doesn’t fix everything for the Hawks, but he could solve some of the problems that have been plaguing the team lately.

Sure, Davis isn’t the same player he once was, but when he’s healthy, he’s still considered one of the better frontcourt players in the league. That means acquiring him could cost a pretty penny, and Atlanta knows it. There could be a world where the Hawks can catch him for the right pricebut at some point it may be overpaid.

There is one player the Hawks should keep out of any trade talks with Davis if they are serious about trading for him.

Zachary Risacher he should not be in any contract with anthony davis

Any trade the Hawks would make for Anthony Davis would start with Kristaps Porzingis, because of salary. That still wouldn’t be enough to match what Davis is making, and the Hawks would have to add another player to the deal. There have been rumors that Zachary Rizacher might be included in a Davis trade, with Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints and NBA Insider Marc Stein hinting at that possibility, as he hasn’t performed the way Atlanta liked after taking him first overall in 2024.

Watching Rizaher, he took a step back from his rookie season, which the numbers show (10.7 PPG in 2025 vs. 12.6 PPG in 2024). He’s also not playing as many minutes, as head coach Quin Snyder opted to play Vito Krejci late in games for the Hawks because of his shooting.

That doesn’t mean Atlanta should give up on Rizacher, and he still has some value on this team. For a team that has struggled defensively, he still offers length and size at his position that the Hawks wouldn’t have if they traded him. They’re also one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, and are much better when he’s on the floor than when he’s not.

At this point, his offensive struggles are the reason he isn’t getting as many minutes. But over the past few games, he’s seen some improvement in that regard, especially his 3-point shooting. If he can continue that consistency, better days are ahead of him.

The Hawks should continue to build for the future – and the present

Trading your young asset for a 32-year-old big man with a long injury history shouldn’t be a move the Hawks make. If Davis was still in his prime and reasonably healthy, it would definitely be a move that would require them to consider giving up some of their young players.

The frustration is understandable when it comes to Risacher and he hasn’t made a big jump in his second season. At the same time, he’s still only 20 years old and has been drafted into a team where he won’t have much opportunity to showcase his skill set when you have players like Trae Young and Jaylen Johnson on the team. Rizacher’s struggles on offense don’t make a better case for him, but if he could be used differently and more in Snyder’s system, there is a scenario where things could work out for him in Atlanta.

The Hawks may think they need to make a move to save their season, and Davis is the piece that could move the needle. But if it costs too much, Atlanta shouldn’t think twice about it. If the Hawks were smart, they would offer something like Porzingis, Luke Kennard and a couple or two (the unprotected pick from the New Orleans Pelicans is off the table, as is Johnson). If the Mavericks are looking for something more substantial, it would be in the Hawks’ best interest to walk away.