Mavericks' dream Anthony Davis trade partner just unexpectedly surfaced

Anthony Davis has been linked in trade rumors to too many different teams for Dallas Mavericks fans to count at this point. The latest intel indicated the Milwaukee Bucks are interested in trading for Davis to team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The "Greek Freak" has been in the middle of trade speculation since the beginning of the season, but with him staying with the Bucks for the time being, they need to give him a reason to stay.

The Bucks need something to spark their season, as they are teetering just out of play-in range. They have a lot of work to do to get above .500 at this point, and the Bucks are the team that has to make an obvious move before the deadline is up. According to Christian Clark and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Bucks are interested in Davis, but there are risks.

"League sources say the Milwaukee Bucks (16-20; 11th in the East) are also among the teams that have registered interest in trading for Davis, though a deal appears unlikely," Clark and Amick said. "The Bucks have been aggressive in their search for more talent to put alongside superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and expressing interest in Davis falls in line with that pursuit. But their scarce asset base and lack of sizable contracts could limit the attractiveness of a potential trade package."

The Bucks have the assets to make an Anthony Davis trade worthwhile

The Bucks' level of interest seems uncertain at this point, but they do have some assets that could intrigue Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley to send the star big man to Milwaukee.

Myles Turner is in his first year with the Bucks after a long stint with the Indiana Pacers. The season hasn't gone as he planned in his first season with a new team, and a fresh start might be what he needs. Turner is the shot blocker and floor spacer that the Mavs could rely on at the five, thanks to on-and-off injuries to Dereck Lively II.

The Mavs have wanted Turner for years, and Antetokounmpo clearly wants more talent around him to push for the NBA Finals once again. A move that sends Turner and other assets to Dallas for Davis could be a win-win scenario for both ball clubs.

The Bucks could even look to get a third team involved to help the money match up, and the Mavericks should be eyeing the Bucks' future first-round picks as well. With the uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee, their picks in 2031 and 2032 could be among the most valuable in the NBA.

A package centered around Turner, one of those first-round picks, matching salary, and potentially some young talent wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Dallas has to get back to winning next year, and Turner would help them get back on track.

Clark and Amick say that the lack of sizable contracts is an issue for trading for a player like Davis, but the Bucks also have a decision to make. They are much aware (as well as every other GM) that Davis' injury history isn't pretty. He's not going to all of a sudden be less injury-prone if he goes to another team. Even though the Mavs' medical team was under a lot of heat for how they dealt with Lively II's injuries over the years, no medical team can magically fix Davis at this point in his career.

Make no mistake, when Davis is in the lineup and healthy, he's a full force on both sides of the ball. He's showing NBA teams why they should trade for him. Some team will be willing to give him an extension this summer, and that's what he should want. It just can't be the Mavs because they have to emphasize building around Cooper Flagg.

The Mavs are also in a position to not force a Davis trade and watch how it all works out with the unofficial big three of Davis, Flagg, and Kyrie Irving. They haven't played in any games yet, but it's perfectly understood if Riccardi and Finley want to play the waiting game and see what happens once Irving gets back and joins Davis and Flagg in the lineup.

Regardless though, it seems like Davis may be on the move, and the Bucks are a team to keep an eye on. They'd likely have to loop a third team in to make a trade work, but those first-round picks in the early 2030s combined with Turner are valuable assets that the Mavericks can't overlook.