Anthony Davis trade proposal finally gives Mavericks what Cooper Flagg needs most

Just 14 days away from the NBA trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks are still debating whether or not star center Anthony Davis is even worth trading. With plenty of rumors circulating Davis' name, one mock trade created by James Piercey of Dallas Hoops Journal, has the Mavericks engaging in trade conversations with the Charlotte Hornets. In this deal, they reclaim their 2027 first-round pick, along with Miles Bridges and Collin Sexton, in exchange for Anthony Davis.

For the Mavericks, this is a trade well worth exploring if the Hornets were interested in investing in their future around rookie standout Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball, and Brandon Miller. For the Mavericks, this would be a no-brainer decision, as they wouldn't need to rush building around Cooper Flagg, and it would buy them one more year of mediocrity without any major repercussions.

Their own 2027 first-round pick is the major draw in this trade, and Mavericks fans would be eccstatic if Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley could pull off such a move.

Reclaiming their 2027 pick would change everything for the Mavericks

It goes without saying, but acquiring more future first-round draft capital would be great for the Mavericks, especially when it is their own 2027 pick, which they traded for P.J. Washington at the 2024 trade deadline. For the Mavericks, this would be a trade that would require zero thinking as they would get off of Davis' $54 million contract, which in return would allow them to get below the second apron barring a few more salary-moving trades.

While the Hornets haven't been a great team this season, when fully healthy, fans have seen flashes of what could potentially be a special group that could be a few moves away from truly contending in a weak Eastern Conference. With Davis, they would not only establish a defensive anchor alongside Ryan Kalkbrenner but also have a legitimate star to lead their young roster who can affect both sides of the floor when he's healthy.

For Dallas, building for Flagg's future should be the team's main priorities, and with them only fully controlling one first-round draft pick until 2031, acquiring more picks should be an outlet the team uses to build a strong foundation. The Mavericks have already shown that they are willing to focus on the 2026 NBA Draft, and with their own 2027 first-round selection in their back pocket, it gives the team even more flexibility to slowly build around the 19-year-old forward.

The Hornets would need to be confident in their young core before even making a trade of this magnitude, especially for a star with as much negative attention around him as Davis currently has. With Ball already being prone to injuries throughout the regular season, this may not be a trade they are willing to gamble with, especially considering how valuable Dallas' 2027 first-round pick could be if they struggle again next season.

Considering the Mavericks may have a chance to make a top-seven pick in this summer's draft, giving themselves the flexibility to build around a strong young core with Flagg at the center of it all is an opportunity they just can't pass up. This trade would come down to whether or not the Hornets would be willing to push some of their chips in for an all-in trade centered around a star who has plenty of question marks attached to his name.