Mavericks better pray ESPN is wrong about Anthony Davis' trade return

ESPN's Brian Windhorst recently revealed that league sources have indicated that Anthony Davis could ultimately be traded for just expiring contracts so the Dallas Mavericks can get his contract off their books. Davis has been in trade rumors since the moment that Nico Harrison was fired in November, but his recent hand injury has driven his value way down.

The Mavericks played with fire and got burned. They waited to trade the star big man, and his lengthy injury history came back to bite them at the worst time.

The man that Harrison traded Luka Doncic for could ultimately be traded for expiring contracts, with no draft capital or young players attached in the next three weeks. This exposes just how poorly Davis' time in Dallas has gone over the last 11 months, and a dark cloud will hang over the Mavs until they move him.

ESPN floats lackluster Anthony Davis trade return

"When I talk to people in the league, a guy who was traded for Luka Doncic a year ago, could literally just get traded this year for expiring money," Windhorst said on ESPN's NBA Today. "Just to get his money off the books."

The Mavericks desperately need to trade Anthony Davis soon in an effort to escape the second apron ahead of next season, but not getting any value for him would be an absolute disaster. The flexibility that would come with trading Davis for expiring contracts would at least be beneficial, but the Mavericks need a little more than that.

Before his hand injury, Davis at least seemed like he would generate some positive value. The Mavericks were hunting expiring contracts and young talent in any trade that involved Davis, but now it seems like the idea of them receiving a young asset may be tossed out the window.

Teams know that Davis is injury-prone, and with him pushing for an extension this summer, they aren't going to give up the farm to bring him in.

Despite all of the external pressure to move on from Davis, the Mavericks aren't going to be forced to trade him by Rich Paul and his camp either. Dallas is only going to move on if they feel that the deal is fair, but a trade for expiring contracts is definitely in the cards. Especially since he could return to the hardwood this season.

Davis' injury did not require surgery, and "is expected to heal from the injury in approximately six weeks," according to the Mavericks. This means that he could be ready to play in early March, and Dallas has engaged in trade talks with interested teams.

The injury hasn't fully scared other teams away, as he could still be ready for the final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs, but Dallas can only take the bait if the right deal presents itself. The Mavericks can take this into the offseason if they like, and Patrick Dumont is fully prepared to do that if he has to.

The Mavericks need to get out of the Anthony Davis business as soon as possible, but only landing a few expiring contracts in exchange for the 10-time All-Star would be a major steal for whoever trades for him. Dallas better hope that they can at least secure some draft capital or a young player if they're going to give up on Davis, but this may be out of the picture if ESPN's recent report comes true.