Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade rumbles take dramatic 180 if newest rumors are true

Despite Anthony Davis' trade market originally seeming limited, it seems like the Dallas Mavericks may be able to net a bigger-than-expected return for their star big man if they decide to move on. Davis has been in trade rumors since Nico Harrison was fired, and the trade smoke is only poised to pick up if the recent rumblings surrounding the 6-foot-10 big man are true.

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic reported that executives from around the league "believe (Davis) could swing the title race the most if he were dealt to the right situation. If he were to end up in the right place in the Eastern Conference, there is a real belief that he could turn that team into a serious favorite."

Outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo's unique situation with the Milwaukee Bucks, Davis is the biggest name on the trade market. People from around the league obviously think that trading for him could alter the entire landscape of the NBA, and these thoughts reflect the type of player that could land a massive trade return.

Anthony Davis remains a hot commodity across the NBA landscape

Davis isn't just a star. He's one of the best big men in the world when he's fully healthy, and should be treated as such.

He's a one-time champion, a 10-time all-star, and a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team. These aren't just any accomplishments. They're some of the best accolades you can get, and every big performance he puts up proves to the entire league that he is worth pursuing.

His recent injuries over the last year or so have caused fans to forget that, and if he can stay healthy and continue to lead the Mavericks to wins, they are going to have no shortage of offers before February 5 (the trade deadline) rolls around.

The Mavericks are 5-2 in games that Davis plays in this month, with the only two losses being against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers. He has led the Mavericks to wins over the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Detroit Pistons in this span, and his impact on winning has been overwhelmingly obvious.

His dominance around the bucket on offense, combined with his stellar rim protection and quick hands on defense, make him someone that any team should want to trade for, and the next few weeks will be telling about what his future will look like. The Mavericks aren't set on trading him. But if they do want to jumpstart the rebuild around Cooper Flagg and trade Davis for assets, they could end up landing a laudable return.

Vecenie believes that his value is multiple first-round picks along with a "high-end prospect," and Dallas will be in a great spot if they can secure a package that includes both of these things. If the Mavericks want to enter a rebuild around Flagg, first-round picks should be one of the top things they're asking for in any potential Anthony Davis trade.

They don't have full control of any of their first-round picks until 2031, and the draft is one of the best ways teams build around their young superstars. The Mavericks unfortunately won't have this luxury, as they traded away most of their draft capital to build around Luka Doncic, and they're already in an uphill battle to put a championship-level roster around Flagg.

It's going to take time, and that's why draft picks and at least one rising young player must come to Dallas if they get rid of Davis.

The Mavericks are fine with competing this year, but they are certainly listening to offers for Davis as well. If the league thinks of Davis as highly as Vecenie reported, the Mavs could end up with a bidding war on their hands in about a month.

This would be the best-case scenario for the Mavericks, and the more interested teams that emerge should result in his value skyrocketing.