Mavericks' dream Anthony Davis trade partner isn't who you expect

With the Dallas Mavericks shopping Anthony Davis on the trade market, the first team that they need to call is definitely the Detroit Pistons. A team like Detroit trading for Davis could thrust them into real contender conversations (if they aren't already), and they happen to have multiple attractive assets that Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley need to be eyeing.

The Pistons are 15-2 on the year, and with Cade Cunningham quietly morphing into one of the best guards in the NBA, there is no better time for them to add another star player. Davis, when healthy, has the potential to switch the dynamic of contenders in the East, and he may be the piece that Detroit needs to run the table and bring a title to Motor City.

It may seem like a shock at first for the Pistons to even consider bringing in Davis, but with the parity in the Eastern Conference this year, Detroit can't wait around. This may be the perfect time for them to push for their first NBA championship since 2004.

On Dallas' end, they just need to get a good start on a rebuild, and Detroit has multiple pieces that would help accelerate that. The Pistons have successfully gone from the bottom to the top in just a few years, and the Mavericks will hope to do the same as they try to build around Cooper Flagg.

Why the Mavericks must call the Pistons for Anthony Davis trade talks

Despite the potential perfect fit of Ausar Thompson next to Flagg in Dallas, it seems unlikely that the Mavericks could finagle their way to land him in a Davis trade. With that being said, they should have their sights set on Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland to become young new staples in the rotation.

The Mavericks won't net a superstar-type trade package for Davis at this point, but Holland or Ivey are likely attainable. Both players are in their early twenties, and with Dallas looking to kickstart the Flagg era, they'd each be an ideal building block to bring youth and energy to Big D.

In his second season for Detroit, Ron Holland is averaging 7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, and he'd definitely be a fun young piece to add alongside Flagg. He's also from Duncanville, and getting to come home to play for his hometown team would be a great homecoming story. Holland embodies the hard work and tenacity that DFW embodies, and Mavericks fans would fall in love with him.

Standing at 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Holland would be a great fit next to Flagg on the wing, and the Mavericks would have an intriguing young duo to build around. Holland's defense, athleticism, and slashing are all major strengths, and him being a true small forward would allow Flagg to go back to playing his true position at the four.

Opposing teams would have nightmares when trying to score on the Mavericks with Holland and Flagg both on the floor, and we'd see plenty of lobs being thrown to each of them.

But in order for Flagg and Holland to catch lobs, they're going to need some better guards around them. And that's where Purdue's own Jaden Ivey comes into play.

With Dallas' obvious need for more guard depth, Ivey is also someone who would immediately elevate their backcourt, and the Mavericks would be the perfect spot to give him a fresh start. Detroit didn't give him a rookie extension, meaning that he will become a restricted free agent after this season.

If Dallas can clear up some cap space in other deals around the deadline, or by bringing in Tobias Harris' expiring contract as part of this deal with Detroit, they could end up being in a good spot to re-sign him if he fits well.

Ivey plays best as a shooting guard rather than a point guard, meaning that he's best when playing next to a true one, but his growing playmaking skills are something that Dallas should take a flier on. He averages 4.4 assists per game on his career, thriving as a solid downhill decision-maker for those around him, and his balance of scoring and passing is exactly what the Mavs need.

Despite being just 6-foot-4, Ivey has a strong frame and a 6-foot-9 wingspan. He has the build to be a true shooting guard at the NBA level, and his in-between game, 3-point shooting, and slashing look promising enough to be an elite piece of Dallas' young core.

Through two games this season, Ivey is shooting 50 percent from downtown, and he'd be an excellent player to play alongside Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and P.J. Washington as they begin a new era.

The Dallas Mavericks' trade market for Anthony Davis may seem limited now, but if things heat up, the Detroit Pistons are someone that they should call immediately. Jaden Ivey and or Ron Holland would be major difference-makers if they can get their hands on them, and they'd help bring buzz back to a city that is begging for something to be excited about amid their disastrous 5-14 start.