Giannis Antetokounmpo tension puts Mavericks' ideal Anthony Davis trade in play

Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis has been in trade rumors for some time now, and the Milwaukee Bucks may be a team that the Mavericks should consider calling because of the recent Giannis Antetokounmpo news.

Recently, it's been rumored that Antetokounmpo isn't happy with the current state of the Bucks. Rumors of a potential trade around the superstar have been looming for some time. However, recent news that the Bucks may try to win now is mentioned to make Antetokounmpo happy. Antetokounmpo has recently revealed he's "locked in" with the Bucks.

For where both teams currently sit, the Mavericks should be keeping the Bucks in mind for a potential landing destination for Davis.

Why the Mavericks should call the Bucks about Anthony Davis

The Bucks need to keep their superstar player happy, or he will want out as soon as possible. To do that, the Bucks need to make a trade for a top player for him to remain content with staying in Milwaukee. They haven't made it out of the first round of the playoffs in the past three years, and something clearly needs to change. Antetokounmpo needs some help, and landing Davis would give him one of the best co-stars that he's ever had.

Trading for a top player like Davis would also help the Bucks send a message that they care to put talent around their superstar player and prioritize him. With that said, Davis is capable of being a player who can help the Bucks get back to the promised land.

The Mavericks could enter a rebuild mode ahead of the trade deadline due to the incredible potential of Cooper Flagg. They may not have the talent to push for a title this season, and getting rid of Davis would signal that they are ready to build around Flagg and enter a new era.

The Bucks are more capable of retooling to try and win another championship with Antetokounmpo for the first time since 2021. With Antetokounmpo's ability to dominate offensively and be a top defensive player in the NBA, Davis can easily form a top dynamic duo with the Greek Freak. They would dominate the paint on both ends of the floor, and Milwaukee would pair two of the league's best defenders in the NBA in their frontcourt.

The Bucks are quite similar to the Mavericks in a way. The Bucks don't fully control their own first-round draft pick until 2031. The Mavericks have their own 2026 first-round draft pick, but won't fully control any of their own first-round draft picks until 2031.

If the Mavericks want to build for the future with Flagg, asking for either one of the Bucks' 2031 or 2032 first-round picks may be a good play. The Bucks may be forced to trade these selections if they want to keep Antetokounmpo happy, and Dallas should cash in while they can.

Another thing to look at about the Bucks for the Mavericks is that there's no guarantee the Bucks will be contenders in 2031 or 2032. It's still possible that Antetokounmpo may leave the Bucks, which could lead to some down years. If the Bucks are at the bottom of the NBA by that time, those picks can turn into high draft picks for the Mavericks to use to build for the future.

Draft picks should be the Mavericks' main priority if they trade Davis. The Bucks may not offer the quality young players that the Mavericks need, but those 2031 and 2032 first-round draft picks may be two of the most valuable picks in the NBA.

Dallas should capitalize on Milwaukee's desperation by trying to trade them Davis, and while it would't pay off immediately, Dallas would have at least one excellent first-round pick to add a young player to their core as Flagg enters his prime.