3 Mavericks in the intensifying trade firing line outside Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis has been involved in trade talks for over a month, but he might not be the only one saying goodbye to the Dallas Mavericks organization before the February 5 trade deadline. Daniel Gafford, D'Angelo Russell, and Klay Thompson could find themselves on different teams in three weeks, and the reasons for each player are obvious.

The fanbase was in shambles after it was announced that Anthony Davis would miss an extended period of time due to ligament damage in his left hand. However, he will not need to undergo surgery on his left hand and could make a return this season.

Davis will be reevaluated in six weeks, but it won't matter for the most part. The Mavericks are still on board with trading Davis. If he returns to the court during the season, then it's more leverage for Dallas to trade him to a playoff team. It may give Dallas the draft capital they desperately desire in the future, as they don't have any of their own first-round picks between 2027 and 2030.

3 Mavericks players who could be moved in the next few weeks

The Mavericks already have a few glaring holes on their team, but they could trade to get draft capital or young players. Most fans have already been on board with rookie Ryan Nembhard, and it's easy to see why some veterans may be on the move, as he and fellow star rookie Cooper Flagg are already taking over Dallas.

Russell, Gafford, and Thompson have each been in trade rumors of their own, and Dallas could end up moving on from all three of them if they choose to do so.

3. D'Angelo Russell

Fans haven't been feeling D'Angelo Russell for a while now. Jason Kidd seems to think the same, as he praised Nembhard for his impressive performance against the Denver Nuggets, one of the NBA's best teams. Kidd trusts Nembhard with the ball to make great decisions, and he always praises him as much as he can.

On the other hand, Russell hasn't been involved in many clutch situations this season, and when he has, he's taken poor shots. It's the same story as what we saw with the Los Angeles Lakers when Russell was a boom-or-bust shooter. So far, he's been a bust, and he's probably the easiest player to put on this list.

The Mavericks are looking to trade him, and with Kidd now involved in Patrick Dumont's basketball cabinet, Russell may already have a one-way ticket out of Dallas booked. Kidd hasn't been afraid to bench Russell (A DNP-CD in four of the last five games) lately, and they clearly don't view him as a long-term piece on the Mavericks.

2. Daniel Gafford

Daniel Gafford has done nothing but what he's been asked to do by Jason Kidd and the rest of the coaching staff, but he's also fallen flat in his production this season. He has been in the middle of trade talks since last season, but the Mavs kept him as a key component to their high energy and elite paint protection.

The dilemma with the Davis injury brings up an elephant in the room that Gafford may have to stay to give them some big man depth. The Mavs suffered through the disaster of having no depth down low last season, and they sure don't want to go through it again. But then again, what does it matter if the Mavs can get a first-round pick in a trade for Gafford?

The main reason: Gafford has been the subject of trade talks for months, and February may finally be his last month in a Mavs uniform.

1. Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson being traded would be the most heartbreaking for Mavs fans of these three players, as the 13-year veteran stayed the course following the Luka Doncic trade. Thompson was supposed to be a key piece to the Doncic-led offense, and it was ripped away from him.

Despite this, he has made the most of his time in Dallas and has played well lately.

Thompson was taken out of the starting lineup earlier this season to make room for players like Nembhard and Max Christie, but it's only a matter of whether he wants to take a bench role full-time in Dallas. He may not want to, but so far, he seems fine with it.

Thompson has earned the right to go wherever he wants to go, and if that's the Golden State Warriors, then so be it. He wants to play for a contender, and the Mavs can unfortunately no longer provide that for him.