Anthony Davis' Mavericks return puts Dallas in terrifying dilemma

Anthony Davis has yet to return to the Dallas Mavericks' roster from the calf strain that he suffered at the end of October, and once he does, the team must proceed with caution, as his return comes with a major risk. Davis missed his 14th straight game for the Mavericks on Monday, and there is no clear answer when he will return to the floor. It's no wonder fans and analysts have suggested trading the star forward.

Since the departure of Nico Harrison, rumors and speculation have been centered around Davis' future with Dallas. Many people believe that trading Davis is the right answer, as trade packages have been suggested. Plus, the team seems ready to focus on the future with Cooper Flagg.

Yet, Dallas can't focus on Flagg's future unless they actually trade Davis. If you recall, he was brought in as part of the Luka Doncic trade to help build Harrison's "defense wins championships" motto. Davis has been a solid asset whenever he is on the floor. Fans, though, rarely see him in action as injuries have taken their toll. So, if the team is serious about trading him, then they must proceed with caution.

Davis' health will deeply impact his future trade value

Davis is averaging a double-double this season. He is scoring 20.8 points per game and grabbing 10.2 rebounds. In four of the five games he's played, Davis has scored above 22 points. He had his best game against the Washington Wizards on October 24. He had 27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the game. So, it's clear his production is valuable, but his injury history is starting to be a major problem.

As mentioned, Davis has already missed 14 games this season. Fans got their hopes up on Monday, as it seemed like he was trending in the right direction by being upgraded from out to doubtful. Dallas, though, sat out Davis once again. It's a pattern fans are tired of seeing, as last season he missed 18 games with an adductor strain.

So, the easiest solution to the problem above is to trade Davis, right? Well, that depends on one major dilemma.

Davis's ability to stay healthy when he returns will deeply determine his trade value. Basically, his status is critical to the Mavs' future.

Currently, there have been no teams officially tied to Anthony Davis in trade rumors. Although ESPN believes the market is small if Dallas were to trade him. They suggest that Dallas won't get an overhaul of draft picks if they were to trade Davis.

This is why Davis coming back healthy will be important. If Davis were to suffer any setbacks or injuries during his return, this could likely drop his trade value. So, his return will be crucial to the Mavs' future.

Now, this doesn't mean Dallas shouldn't bring back, as they definitely need all the help they can get. They need to proceed with caution once he returns. Davis' injury history could derail their ability to trade him and build around Flagg. In simple terms, they don't need him to become a negative asset that they'll struggle to trade down the line, and that's exactly what would happen if he re-injured his calf.

It's possible Davis could make his return on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers, his former team. Yet, whenever he actually returns, Dallas must be careful. They face a tough dilemma that is in Davis' hands. One solution that could help is putting Davis on a minute restriction plan similar to Dereck Lively II.