Anthony Davis just quietly made a Mavericks trade inevitable

The Dallas Mavericks have lost their spark recently, losing their third game in four contests to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.

Still, on the bright side, Anthony Davis is playing exceptionally well, which could increase his trade value, forcing the team to consider trading him before the February 5 trade deadline. Dallas has been on a brief losing skid, but Davis' recent play has stolen the show. The Mavs' forward had one of his best games of the year against the Pelicans when he scored a season-high 35 points and had 17 rebounds. It's a performance that should excite fans, regardless of whether the team keeps him or moves on.

Remember, Davis' name has been mentioned in trade talks for the past month. Yet, with his recent surge and superb play, it'll help Dallas to have more leverage in trade discussions. This means his value could drastically increase to the point that the Mavs could receive a valuable package in return for him. Not to mention, it may force the team to retrieve a deal that they couldn't deny.

There is still a case for the Mavericks to keep him and push for the playoffs because he is playing so well, but it seems more likely that his play will just force his value up and make a trade even more inevitable. The Eastern Conference is wide open, and some team will jump on Davis' potential and give the Mavericks a respectable trade package.

Anthony Davis is playing his way off the Mavericks' roster

However, this will all hinge on two things. First, Davis will need to continue playing at a high rate so that it'll entice other teams to make a trade. This will for sure make things easier for Dallas.

Secondly, he must stay healthy and be on the court for a long duration. It'll increase his trade value and show teams that his health is good enough to bet on. His health will be a key factor in making things work, and one serious injury could derail everything.

Yet, whatever the case may be, Davis is a highly valued trade candidate. It was recently reported that multiple teams across the NBA believe that trading for Davis could change the playoff landscape. It's believed he would drastically improve a team's playoff chances and make them an instant title contender.

So, this should be music to the Mavericks. The idea that they could unload Davis for a reasonable package and build around Cooper Flagg is a positive. It would allow Dallas to start building for the future, something they have been mentioning over the last month or so. The organization would also be able to get rid of the rest of Davis' contract and clean up the mess that Nico Harrison left behind.

To top it off, Dallas has a few rumored suitors interested in acquiring Davis. The Toronto Raptors have emerged as a team linked to the star forward. If you recall, they were one of three Eastern Conference teams that expressed interest at the beginning of the month, along with the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks. Toronto is definitely a sleeper team for Davis, as they would excel with Davis on their roster. They are currently in the middle of the playoff standings, but adding Davis to the mix would turn them into one of the top teams in the East.

It seems there isn't a better time than now to trade Davis. Remember, he has a high risk of getting injured, and Dallas might need to make something happen before it's too late. Davis' consistent production lately significantly benefits the team if they are really serious about trading him. As long as he keeps playing at a high level, the Mavs may end up with way more offers for him than fans initially expected.

Now, all that's left is for Davis to continue playing at an all-star level. He needs to continue to exceed expectations and be elite on both ends of the floor, something he is currently doing. So, if things continue to pan out, then it's likely Davis will be traded, and Flagg will be the focal point of the organization, something the rookie should embrace.

Every great game that Davis has gets other teams interested, and this is exactly what the Mavs should want. He's dominating the paint while staying healthy, and if he can keep this up, Dallas may end up getting a trade offer that they can't refuse.