Anthony Davis' perilous predicament could make or break the Mavericks' season

Two years ago, the Dallas Mavericks made the NBA Finals and seemed like a team on the rise; however, infamous trades, draft picks, and recent injuries have placed the team in an awkward spot, and there is no doubt that Anthony Davis has the team in a weird position. The Mavericks' big man has Dallas in a predicament, as the team must figure out his worth before February 5, also known as the NBA trade deadline.

If you recall, Davis came to Dallas in the Luka Doncic trade, as former general manager Nico Harrison believed he was the key ingredient to help the Mavs get back to the promised land. Yet, things haven't panned out properly. For starters, Harrison was fired from his role with the team earlier this season, and fans haven't seen much of Davis this season.

Davis has played in seven games this season and missed 14, as injuries have sadly become the norm for him in Dallas. His inability to stay healthy has put the Mavericks in a tough spot. In simple terms, the Mavs are off to a rough start, sitting with a 7-15 record, and all signs point to tanking and rebuilding being the best move for the season. However, the team can't fully embrace losing when Davis is healthy.

Mavericks' Anthony Davis rollercoaster puts their future in question

The Mavs' future is in check, as rookie Cooper Flagg has given the team hope after last season's fiasco. Dallas' rookie has been on a tear for the past two games. Flagg had his best performance against the LA Clippers on Saturday when he scored a career-high 35 points on 59.1 percent shooting. His recent production has made fans excited for the future with him at the helm.

So, it's exciting for fans, as they have been given a glimpse of their forthcoming. Plus, you can't forget about Ryan Nembhard. His recent play also gives the organization and its fans monumental hope, assuming the team signs him to a standard contract later this season.

Although there is one problem, Dallas can't fully focus on their future unless it figures out their Davis dilemma and what direction they want to head in.

As mentioned, Davis has struggled to stay on the court. He missed 24 games last season after arriving in Dallas, failing to win over fans, as everyone was still grieving over the Luka Doncic trade. So, it's clear why fans might want to trade their star big man as rumors are beginning to pick up. Yet, trading him has become problematic itself, as his injury history isn't something opposing teams want to gamble on.

This is why Dallas desperately needs Davis to play more. This would help him build his trade value, as he would become more appealing to teams. Plus, he is a game-changer whenever he is on the court. Although this is another issue itself. The more Davis plays, the more games Dallas wins, halting the idea of tanking.

The simplest solution would have been to trade Davis sooner, as Dallas could have easily started tanking. This, though, is becoming harder by the day with Davis playing and the Mavs on a two-game winning streak. So, as stated, Davis has the team in a weird spot.

It begs the question: where do the Mavs go from here? Do they still trade Anthony Davis after their recent success? This is a question Dallas must answer, as it must find a clear direction. Radio personality Ben Rogers has a solution, though: trade Davis, build for the future, and get rid of his contract. It'll be interesting to see if Dallas follows the advice.