Trade Rumors: AD, Mavs, Bridges, Sabonis, Pistons, More
In their initial trade discussions with teams earlier this season about big man Anthony Davis, the Mavericks were seeking multiple first-round picks or an impact player, sources tell ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. However, there were no takers at that price, even prior to Davis’ most recent injury, a hand issue that will keep him sidelined through the deadline.
While a pre-deadline Davis deal is no longer considered likely, it’s not impossible, Windhorst writes — but it would almost certainly require Dallas to drop its asking price and settle for perhaps one solid asset, plus matching salary. With no urgency to make a move right now, it probably makes more sense for the Mavs to wait until the offseason to make a decision on the 32-year-old.
Rival teams anticipate that Dallas will pursue trades involving other players in an effort to reduce their team salary for 2026/27, Tim Bontemps of ESPN says within the same story. Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and D’Angelo Russell are among the Mavs’ trade candidates who have guaranteed salaries or (in Russell’s case) a player option for next season. Turning any of them into a player – or players – with expiring salary could help the Mavs manage their cap situation for next season, reducing the need to move off Davis’ maximum-salary contract, Bontemps observes.
Here are a few more of the latest trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Hornets forward Miles Bridges likely won’t be moved at the trade deadline, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. Amick reported in January that Bridges was drawing legitimate trade interest from a handful of teams, but Charlotte has been in a roll since then, registering seven consecutive wins and moving within one game of a play-in spot. A league source tells The Athletic that the forward – for whom the Hornets were reportedly seeking at least one first-round pick – is “highly likely” to remain in Charlotte.
- In their discussions about Domantas Sabonis, the Kings have explored three-for-one or four-for-one frameworks with the Raptors, according to James Ham of The Kings Beat, who suggests such a package would start with forward RJ Barrett and may include players like Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick. Sacramento would also want rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, but he’s someone Toronto would “fight to hold onto,” Ham adds. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter video link) has also heard that Barrett and Agbaji have come up in the Sabonis talks between the Raptors and Kings.
- Checking in on the Pistons‘ approach to the trade deadline, Hunter Patterson of the Athletic suggests the team seems unlikely to make any major moves and hasn’t engaged in discussions involving veteran forward Tobias Harris, whom head coach J.B. Bickerstaff refers to as his “security blanket.” Detroit will be opportunistic if a favorable deal arises and still has a $14MM trade exception available, but that exception doesn’t expire until July 7, so the team could end up hanging onto it until the offseason, Patterson writes.
- Following up on a HoopsHype report that suggested the Sixers were among the team to express exploratory interest in Celtics forward/center Chris Boucher, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required) says a source downplayed Philadelphia’s interest, despite Boucher’s connection to 76ers head coach Nick Nurse.
Kings Rumors: Sabonis, Hunter, Kuminga, Morant, LaVine
The Kings haven’t ruled out the possibility of trading Domantas Sabonis this week, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), and the Raptors‘ interest in the veteran center is very real, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Most sources with knowledge of the situation view Toronto as the most viable Sabonis suitor at this time, Fischer writes.
While Fischer gets the sense that Keon Ellis no longer be in play shouldn’t have any material impact on talks between the Raptors and Kings, he acknowledges that Toronto is also looking elsewhere for frontcourt upgrades. Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks and Day’Ron Sharpe of the Nets continue to be possibilities, and some members of Anthony Davis‘ camp still think the Raptors will pursue the 10-time All-Star, Fischer writes.
However, Jakob Poeltl and his long-term contract (he’s owed nearly $104MM over four seasons after this one) will complicate any Raptors deal for Sabonis. Team and league sources who spoke to Amick think Toronto would need to find a new home for Poeltl in order to acquire Sabonis, and Sacramento is known to have no interest in taking him back.
Given the potential roadblocks, Amick suggests he wouldn’t be surprised if nothing happens with Sabonis this week and the two teams renew their discussions in the offseason.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- Although Hunter fills a roster need, the trade the Kings made with Cleveland and Chicago shows a lack of foresight and vision from the front office, contends John Hollinger of The Athletic. Trading for Dario Saric in a cost-cutting move and then using the extra breathing room under the tax to sign Dennis Schröder to a three-year deal were two of the first moves general manager Scott Perry made on the job last summer, and he essentially sold both players at a loss just seven months later. Hunter’s 2026/27 salary also pushes the Kings over the projected luxury tax line for next season, Hollinger notes.
- While the trade sending Ellis to Cleveland and Hunter to Sacramento shouldn’t have an impact on the Raptors’ talks for Sabonis, that deal probably reduces the odds of Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga being dealt to the Kings, Fischer writes. Ellis was a potential target for Golden State, and Sacramento’s desire to add a forward has presumably lessened after its acquisition of Hunter.
- Perry has expressed a desire to build the Kings’ roster around players who can impact the game on both ends of the court — Hunter fits that bill, but Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant doesn’t, according to Fischer, who says he’s skeptical Sacramento will pursue Morant in the coming days. Fischer has heard that Morant would be reluctant to sign a contract extension with the Kings and that Sacramento is aware of that fact.
- A league source tells Sam Amick of The Athletic that Zach LaVine is expected to pick up the $49MM player option on his contract for 2026/27. That comes as no surprise, given that LaVine would almost certainly have to accept a significant pay cut if he were to opt out in favor of free agency. That $49MM cap hit for next season is the primary reason why the Kings appear unlikely to find a taker for the high-scoring guard this week.
Mavs Rumors: AD, Russell, Marshall, Christie, Dirk, GM
Within a story about the one-year anniversary of the shocking Luka Doncic trade, Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) shares several rumors related to the Mavericks.
According to Stein’s sources, the Mavs “continue to welcome” trade inquiries on Anthony Davis in advance of the February 5 deadline. That said, Stein hears Dallas doesn’t feel pressure to deal Davis and is ready to keep him on the roster into the offseason, and Davis seems to prefer that outcome as well.
The 32-year-old big man is currently recovering from ligament damage in his left hand. He has been limited to just 29 games with Dallas since the team acquired him last February, Stein notes.
Here’s more from Stein on the Mavs:
- While the team remains open to trading Davis, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, Dallas’ front office “does not want” to move Naji Marshall or Max Christie, Stein reports.
- Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Saturday that the Bucks showed some interest in Russell. Stein has heard that as well, but the details are a little different. Scotto wrote that the Bucks were likely seeking second-round draft compensation to take on Russell’s contract — he makes $5.7MM this season, with a $6MM player option for 2026/27. Stein clarifies that the Bucks initiated those talks, which occurred before they began listening to offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Citing league sources, Stein writes that Milwaukee’s interest in Russell was contingent on the veteran guard declining that player option for next season in favor of re-signing with the Bucks on a minimum-salary deal in the summer. Russell wasn’t interested in that scenario, per Stein.
- Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki has had an “open dialogue” with governor Patrick Dumont since the spring and the team “badly wants” its all-time leading scorer to return to the franchise in “any role he chooses,” according to Stein. However, Nowitzki’s current focus is on his work as a studio analyst for Prime Video and his job as a FIBA board member and global ambassador, Stein writes.
- While Dumont wants to find someone with experience to become the Mavs’ new head of basketball operations, not much else is known about the types of candidates he’s looking for. Echoing previous reporting from The Athletic, Stein hears the search process likely won’t pick up steam until the spring, but the team intends to fill the position prior to June’s draft. Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are currently operating as the team’s co-interim general managers.
Trade Rumors: Magic, Raptors, Celtics, Cavs, Thunder, AD
Sources around the NBA expect the Magic to make a move at the trade deadline to move under the luxury tax line, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst. Orlando is operating about $5.6MM into the tax, so a deal involving Tyus Jones‘ expiring $7MM contract could address the issue. However, as Bontemps and Windhorst point out, it wouldn’t do anything to alleviate Orlando’s cap crunch in future seasons.
The Magic project to be in second-apron territory next season and will likely be opening negotiations with standout guard Anthony Black on a rookie scale extension that would begin in 2027/28. Rivals teams are curious to see if the team will be looking to move off of longer-term salary at the deadline or in the offseason, per ESPN’s duo, and are also wondering whether the front office has any regrets about the maximum-salary extension it gave Paolo Banchero last summer.
“Banchero is a physically gifted and highly talented player who doesn’t always make his team better, and it reminds you at times of Carmelo Anthony in that way,” one Western Conference executive said. “He’s young, and I’m sure they believe that he can mature into a player who does that. But I’d guess (Orlando) is concerned about having given him a full max with an opt out.”
We have more trade rumors from across the league:
- According to Bontemps and Windhorst, while it remains unclear whether a favorable opportunity will present itself, sources view the Raptors as a potential buyer with the assets necessary to be aggressive on the trade market at the deadline. “There are only a few teams out there who have full control of their drafts,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “That makes (the Raptors) a buyer if they want. But when you look at their contracts ($165MM to their top five players next year), they’re going to need those picks.”
- Rival teams view the Celtics as a candidate to make a deal for frontcourt help, but an upgrade along the margins is more likely than a significant deal for a player like Jaren Jackson Jr., Bontemps and Windhorst write.
- ESPN’s duo also checks in on the Cavaliers, noting that the team is heading toward a “gut check moment” with Donovan Mitchell, who has one more guaranteed year left on his contract and has yet to reach the conference finals. Cleveland also has the NBA’s highest payroll and projects to be in the second apron again next season. “Cleveland is active (in trade discussions),” one exec told Bontemps and Windhorst. “We’re not sure what they’re trying to set up — and they may not be either — but they’re active.”
- While the Thunder are unlikely to make any significant changes to their 38-11 roster at the trade deadline, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said in the latest Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link) that he has heard some rumblings about them poking around the market for centers.
- Responding to a report that stated he wants his client Anthony Davis to be traded, agent Rich Paul referred to it as “fake news” (Twitter video link). However, while Paul made it clear he has nothing against the Mavericks or Dallas, he didn’t exactly deny the substance of that report, which suggested he wants Davis on a team that’s more likely to extend him. “It’s not like you want a guy moved just for the sake of being moved,” Paul said on the Game Over podcast. “If a guy is happy where they are, great. You care about people’s families. You care about the guys’ well-beings, and you care about if they’re happy. Now, from a business perspective, you want guys to be positioned and you want guys to be paid. I really don’t care where the money comes from. The money can come from the 31st team of the NBA for all I care. It doesn’t matter, as long as my guy’s positioned and paid, that’s all I want to do.” At this point, a Davis trade appears unlikely to happen by Thursday’s deadline.
Raptors Among Teams Eyeing Yves Missi
Pelicans center Yves Missi is among the potential targets on the Raptors‘ radar as they seek frontcourt help at the trade deadline, reports Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
With starting center Jakob Poeltl having battled back problems all season long, Toronto is believed to be looking to fortify its depth chart at the five while also ducking below the luxury tax line. The team, which is operating about $1MM into the tax, has been linked to big men like Daniel Gafford, Goga Bitadze, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Nick Richards over the course of the season.
The Raptors have also been connected to star-caliber bigs such as Anthony Davis of the Mavericks and Domantas Sabonis of the Kings, but they haven’t gained real traction on either front, sources tell Siegel, and they’re probably more inclined to make a smaller move.
At 29-19 (fourth in the East), Toronto has exceeded expectations so far this season, and Siegel suggests head coach Darko Rajakovic and the Raptors’ players have conveyed to management that they’d prefer if the roster isn’t shaken up too significantly.
A player like Missi would appeal to the Raptors – and other suitors – due to his modest salary ($3.4MM) and his favorable contract, which includes a $3.5MM salary for 2026/27 and a $5.6MM team option for ’27/28. The 21st overall pick in the 2024 draft, Missi started 67 games and averaged 26.8 minutes per game for New Orleans as a rookie, but has primarily come off the bench this season and has seen his MPG dip to 19.2.
Missi’s precise value on the trade market is unclear. According to Siegel, the consensus around the NBA is that the Pelicans will have to settle for multiple second-round draft picks if they move him. However, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) hears New Orleans wants to land a 2026 first-rounder for Missi and has already turned down at least one offer centered around second-round selections.
Toronto has also explored the idea of acquiring Missi as part of a larger package, per Siegel, who says the Raptors brought up the idea of offering RJ Barrett, Ochai Agbaji, and draft picks for Missi and Trey Murphy III. However, the Pelicans – who have been averse to the idea of trading Murphy at all – didn’t have interest in that framework.
The Pacers, Knicks, and Bulls are among the other teams previously reported to have expressed interest in Missi. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Hawks, Celtics, and Lakers are also in that group of potential suitors.
Stein’s Latest: Towns, Holiday, Knicks, Davis, Eason
Steve Popper of Newsday reported last week that the Knicks have talked to multiple teams about the possibility of trading Karl-Anthony Towns. Ian Begley of SNY.tv and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported differently, stating that they haven’t heard any buzz about the Knicks discussing Towns trades.
Sources told Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link) on Monday that the Knicks haven’t been “shopping” the 30-year-old or talking Towns trades with opposing teams. Bondy acknowledges that could change in the coming days, but he doesn’t expect the former No. 1 overall pick to be on the move by February 5.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), while New York’s front office has attempted to downplay Towns-related chatter, some rival teams believe that’s just posturing and that the five-time All-Star may be available under certain circumstances. At minimum, those clubs think the Knicks want to know what the market for Towns would look like, Stein writes.
Towns, 30, has averaged 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .469/.364/.856 shooting through 42 games this season (31.6 minutes per contest). He’s under contract through 2027/28, including a $61MM player option in that final season.
Here are a few more trade rumors from Stein’s latest round-up:
- Stein has heard “rumbles” that the Knicks have explored the viability of trying to trade for Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday. Acquiring Holiday might make New York an even more appealing landing spot for his former Bucks teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Stein, who adds that the Knicks are said to be longtime fans of the six-time All-Defensive member and view him as a strong fit in the backcourt next to Jalen Brunson.
- Despite the external chatter about New York potentially weighing major moves, sources close to the Knicks have insisted to Stein that they’re more focused on small-scale deals involving Guerschon Yabusele, who makes $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.8MM player option for 2026/27.
- Anthony Davis appears unlikely to be traded prior to the deadline, Stein confirms. The Mavericks are expected to continue fielding offers for the injured big man over the next several days, but there doesn’t seem to be any momentum towards a deal and Stein hears the 10-time All-Star prefers to stay with Dallas for the remainder of the season.
- The Rockets have made Tari Eason off limits in trade talks ahead of the deadline, Stein reports. The 24-year-old forward, who has dealt with a variety of injuries over the past few seasons, is converting a career-high 46.6% from three-point range in ’25/26 and will be a restricted free agent in the summer.
- In case you missed it, we passed along several more rumors from Stein on Sunday.
Anthony Davis Trade Appears Unlikely Before Deadline
With 10 days left until the trade deadline, it’s appearing more likely that Anthony Davis will finish the season with the Mavericks, multiple league sources tell Christian Clark of The Athletic.
Davis had been considered one of the top names on this year’s trade market, with Dallas having interest in moving on from his expensive contract and starting a full rebuild around Cooper Flagg. But he has been sidelined since January 8 with ligament damage in his left hand, renewing concerns about whether he’ll ever be able to remain healthy enough for a rival team to invest in a major deal.
Davis recently began doing some on-court work while wearing a protective glove on the hand, but there’s no indication when he might return. He opted against surgery to improve his chances of playing again this season and is set to be reevaluated in late February.
Beyond the injuries, which have forced Davis to miss 26 of the Mavs’ 46 games, there are concerns that his contract might make him too much of a gamble at this point in his career. He’ll earn $58.5MM next season with a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28, and he’ll be seeking an extension when he becomes eligible on August 6, either from Dallas or his next team.
While trade talks regarding Davis have cooled, the Mavericks are getting plenty of interest in Naji Marshall, with a Western Conference scout telling Clark, “I think half the league is interested in him.” Clark states that Dallas prefers to keep Marshall, adding that it would take “something extraordinary” to pry him away.
The 28-year-old small forward is enjoying a career year in his second season with Dallas, averaging 14.7 points per game while posting a 63.5 true-shooting percentage. He has been a major bargain on his $9MM contract and will make $9.4MM next season before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2027.
Clark also examines the market for Daniel Gafford, who has received interest from teams looking to add another center, including Toronto, Atlanta and Boston.
Gafford has been limited to 30 games due to injuries, and he just returned over the weekend after missing four games with a sprained right ankle. His scoring has fallen to 7.6 PPG, his lowest number since early in his career, but he remains an accomplished lob threat and shot blocker and he’s among the league leaders in shooting percentage every season.
Last summer, Gafford signed a three-year, $54MM extension, which will begin in 2026/27. He’ll make $17.3MM, $18.1MM and $19MM over the course of that deal.
Mavericks Notes: Doncic, Flagg, Davis, Irving, Weather
Luka Doncic has been looking forward to returning to Dallas tonight, but he understood that the atmosphere won’t be the same as it was last season, writes Nitish Singh of Dallas Hoops Journal. Emotions were still raw last April when Doncic was introduced at American Airlines Center two months after his unexpected trade to the Lakers. A retrospective video moved Doncic to tears, and he responded with 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals in a statement win over the Mavericks.
“Obviously, always going to feel like home there,” Doncic said. “Like I said, I needed that game (last year) to move on a little bit. But obviously, I’ll always appreciate those fans. They were really tight. I think we had a special bond. I really appreciate it all the time.”
The trade sparked fan anger in Dallas and led to a sharp downturn for the Mavs, who were eliminated in the play-in tournament and are off to a 19-26 start. It also resulted in the firing of general manager Nico Harrison in November. Asked in tonight’s pregame session with reporters whether he wishes he could have stopped the trade, coach Jason Kidd dismissed the idea.
“No, I think it’s one year, and next year will be two years,” Kidd said. (Twitter video link from Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban). “…Luka’s moved on, and we’ve moved on. … That’s just the business of basketball, gotta move forward.”
There’s more from Dallas:
- Kidd was also asked about the prospect of seeing star rookie Cooper Flagg team up with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving (Twitter video link via Weber). Those three players were expected to be the Mavericks’ foundation entering the season, but injuries have limited Davis’ time on the court with Flagg, and Irving still hasn’t returned from the ACL tear that sidelined him last March. “We would love to see that in ’26,” Kidd said. “There’s no guarantee. … Until we get closer for Kai, or closer for AD, then we can start paying a little bit more attention to that. But right now those guys are out for some time. …We would love to see that trio at some point.”
- Flagg will be limited to 30 minutes for tonight’s game, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (Twitter link). Flagg was on a 20- to 25-minute limit in his first two games since returning from an ankle injury, but he topped that number both times.
- Rough weather in Dallas could complicate the team’s effort to get to Milwaukee for Sunday night’s game, tweets Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. The current plan is to take a bus to an area hotel after tonight’s contest ends and fly out in the morning.
Injury Notes: Gordon, Davis, Gafford, Claxton, Towns
Bad news for Nuggets fans: Aaron Gordon reinjured his right hamstring strain on Friday in Milwaukee and was eventually ruled out for the second half, the team announced (Twitter link).
Gordon was playing on both ends of a back-to-back for the second time since he initially strained his hamstring in November, an injury which caused him to miss six weeks.
“I feel good. Better than I’ve felt in a long time,” Gordon said after Thursday’s win at Washington, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (Twitter link).
The veteran power forward appeared to tweak his hamstring in the final minute of the second quarter (Twitter video link via DNVR Sports). He finished with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 16 minutes.
While Gordon was available, multiple other key players were held out Friday, including Jamal Murray (right hamstring inflammation, left hip inflammation), Peyton Watson (right and left ankle sprains), and Jonas Valanciunas, who returned to action on Thursday after missing just over three weeks with a right calf strain.
Here are some more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, who is on the mend from ligament damage in his left hand, has begun light on-court work while wearing a protective glove, reports Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com. Davis is expected to miss several weeks, though no firm timetable has been given for his return.
- As Afseth writes in another story for Dallas Hoops Journal, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford will return to action on Saturday against the Lakers after missing four games with a right ankle sprain that has given the 27-year-old big man issues throughout the 2025/26 campaign. Dwight Powell will continue to start in the middle even with Gafford back, however, as Dallas looks for its fifth straight win.
- Nets center Nic Claxton injured his pinkie finger in Friday’s double-overtime loss to Boston and will undergo imaging on Saturday, he told reporters, including Brian Lewis of The New York Post (Twitter link). Claxton was asked about being involved in trade rumors prior to Friday’s game and if he’s had any conversations with general manager Sean Marks, tweets Lewis. “I’ve almost been traded before,” Claxton said. “Sean, he has an open-door policy. You can always go talk to him whenever you want; but that’s for my agents to take care of. I’m just here as long as I’m here.”
- Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns is dealing with thoracic back spasms and is questionable for Saturday’s game in Philadelphia, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). The five-time All-Star has appeared in 41 of New York’s 44 games to this point in the season.
NBA Rumors: Trade Deadline, Bridges, Mavs, Luka, Lakers
While the grand majority of in-season trades occur during the week of the deadline, this season has been unusually slow as far as deal-making goes. For instance, at this time last year, we had already seen five in-season trades — to this point in 2025/26, we’ve only had one. So why haven’t we seen more action?
ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently spoke to NBA front office executives to get a better understanding of the answer to that question. There are four main reasons for the relative lack of activity to this point, Marks writes.
The first and most important factor holding up the market, per Marks, is that rival teams are waiting to see if Giannis Antetokounmpo requests a trade or if the Bucks decide to listen to offers for the two-time MVP.
Second, a few teams who were viewed as potential deadline sellers entering the season — including the Celtics, Sixers and Suns — are instead vying for home court advantage in the postseason. As Marks observes, Philadelphia made multiple deals last year to dip below the luxury tax line, but that’s unlikely to occur again in ’25/26.
Third, the Mavericks and Grizzlies will likely get underwhelming offers for Anthony Davis and Ja Morant, respectively, leading up to the deadline with their values at low points, so they may not be moved prior to February 5. Davis is out several weeks due to ligament damage in his left hand, while Morant, who has missed extended time this season with calf issues, has been diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his left elbow and was ruled out of Friday’s loss at New Orleans (Twitter link via the Grizzlies).
The final factor for the slow-moving market, according to Marks, is that teams seem more willing to retain their own expiring contracts to maintain financial flexibility in the summer rather than take on multiyear salaries that could disrupt future plans. Multiple teams, including the Lakers, Bulls and Jazz, have long lists of players who could hit free agency in 2026, Marks notes.
Here are a few more rumors from around the NBA:
- Confirming a report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) says the Suns are indeed fans of Miles Bridges. However, the Hornets reportedly want at least one first-round pick for the veteran forward, and Gambadoro points out that Phoenix lacks moveable first-rounders to include in such a deal. Gambadoro also confirms the Suns are reluctant to risk upsetting their positive chemistry by making a significant in-season move, and suggests a minor trade is more likely.
- Ahead of Luka Doncic‘s second game in Dallas since he was shockingly traded to Los Angeles last February, Christian Clark and Dan Woike of The Athletic share several sourced notes on both the Mavericks and the Lakers. According to the authors, part of the reason the Mavs — led at the time by head of basketball operations Nico Harrison, who has since been dismissed — moved Doncic is because they believed he had poor habits related to conditioning and were concerned about the calf strain he sustained in late December 2024 and possible future injuries. One source in the Mavericks’ organization compared Doncic to Elvis Presley and claimed the trade helped him develop better habits and get in better shape. “They got skinny Elvis,” the team source told The Athletic.
- People close to Doncic dispute that characterization, however, and say that line of thinking is a factor in why the Slovenian star is no longer on the Mavericks. According to Clark and Woike, Doncic’s camp believed whether he was traded or not, he “was on a path to improving his diet and conditioning as he matured.” Doncic and those around him have been focused on the present and future and not the past, per the report.
- It took multiple seasons for the Mavericks to surround Doncic with sort of complementary players that led to a trip to the NBA Finals in 2024, and it will take time for the Lakers to reshape their roster around the 26-year-old guard as well, sources in L.A. tell The Athletic. Those same sources noted that the Lakers need to upgrade their athleticism, defense and shooting, and some people around the organization think the any significant roster changes will occur in the offseason, not ahead of the deadline.
- The Mavericks have started the process of vetting candidates to replace Harrison on a permanent basis, per Clark and Woike, but are unlikely to hire anyone until at least the spring. The Athletic’s duo point out that Harrison, a longtime Nike executive, had no previous experience running an NBA team when he was hired in 2021. That won’t be the case for his replacement. “(They) are going to over-index on the safety aspect of it,” a league source told The Athletic.