Anthony Davis' next game could quietly unlock the Mavericks' perfect trade

There's no secret that fans want the Dallas Mavericks to flip the page when it comes to the Anthony Davis era in Dallas, despite the team shutting down rumors earlier this season through Mark Cuban. While trade talk is way easier said than actually done, the Mavericks have the perfect opportunity to reopen trade discussions with the Detroit Pistons when the two play each other on Thursday night.

Davis is currently listed as questionable with a left calf contusion, but if he plays, Detroit could be watching Cade Cunningham's future running mate without even knowing it.

For the Mavericks, it would be the perfect opportunity to officially engage in trade talk with an Eastern Conference suitor that actually makes sense from a roster standpoint, and while the Pistons might not be super interested now, if Davis pops off against Detroit, it would be the perfect reason to open official discussions with the Mavs. The Pistons were linked to Davis earlier this month, and while they don't seem to be a frontrunner at this point, that could change if Davis has a massive game against them.

Davis destroying the Pistons could change everything for the Mavericks

Not only is Detroit one of the best trade partners for the Mavericks when it comes to a name like Davis, as the Pistons host a slew of valuable young talent, but Davis would likely push Detroit's young roster into contention in an Eastern Conference that is open for the taking.

With the trade deadline approaching quicker than many fans realize, it's almost paramount that Davis performs well against the Pistons. For Detroit, witnessing the former first overall pick dismantle their defense might be an eye-opening experience as to why they need him on their team and why he is one of the best bigs in the NBA when healthy.

It's not often that teams get to play each other in the regular season and engage in trade talks before the trade deadline officially heats up, but the Mavericks and Pistons have that opportunity. Both front offices will likely be in the same building for this game, and these conversations around Davis could intensify at the perfect time for Dallas.

For Dallas, trading Davis to an Eastern Conference contender makes perfect sense, considering how wide open the East is this season for teams that are playing above preseason expectations, and the Pistons fit perfectly into that category.

This past week has been full of headlines with the Mavericks' name in them, including them apparently wanting to compete for the rest of the regular season rather than tank, but assuming Davis plays well against the Pistons on Thursday night, it may be too good an opportunity for the Mavericks not to capitalize on. Recent reports have indicated that Dallas will listen to offers for some players, including Davis, but tonight's game could snowball into much more depending on how it goes.

Detroit has multiple young players that any team in the Mavericks' seat would be interested in, like Jaden Ivey or Ron Holland, and while the team might not be able to get both players and first-round picks in a trade, if Davis has a great performance against the Pistons, the two parties may be willing to engage in trade talks. It would be highly unlikely to see the two pull the trigger on a trade that night or even the weeks after Christmas, but it may be the perfect pre-trade deadline engagement to get the two sides warmed up.

Even if the Mavericks decide to keep Davis for the long haul, it's almost paramount that he performs well against an Eastern Conference juggernaut such as the Pistons while the team remains hot. If the Mavericks like their odds at competing in a loaded Western Conference, Davis playing well against the Pistons may be their best insight as to how the team would look against good competition.