Mavericks' rumored Anthony Davis trade destination hides a massive long-term win

With less than a week before the NBA's trade deadline tips off, there have been plenty of trade rumors surrounding the Dallas Mavericks and multiple key names like Anthony Davis. While the overall sentiment is that Davis won't be traded, Bleacher Report recently revealed each team's top three trade targets they should target this trade deadline. Dan Favale believes Dallas should pursue Collin-Murray-Boyles in a trade with the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors have already shown interest in Davis, and if these talks pick up again, Dallas should strike up a deal.

Murray-Boyles was taken with the ninth pick in this past season's draft by the Raptors, where he was expected to make an instant splash as a young forward on an already young roster. While Murray-Boyles' rookie season hasn't been one of stat-padding or even wowing fellow rookie standouts, he remains a gettable young option for the Mavericks to add to their young, emerging core if the Raptors become serious about a trade for Davis now or during the offseason.

Murray-Boyles would make a Davis trade with Toronto worth it

The Raptors have been one of the most surprising teams in a weak Eastern Conference as they are currently sitting at the No. 4 seed with a 29-20 record. For a team potentially needing to push all their chips in, acquiring a blue-chip center of Davis' capabilities may be just enough starpower for them to get over the hump and make a return to the NBA Finals.

The Raptors could get Davis at a relatively low cost, but it just may mean trading Murray-Boyles, who has been impressive on the defensive end of the floor. For the Mavericks, this would be a no-brainer decision to make, considering Davis is making nearly $60 million a year and getting younger should be one of the team's top priorities over the next few seasons.

With that being said, the likelihood that Davis is even dealt at the trade deadline still remains slim despite all of the rumors circulating about the big man. Talks could pick up once again ahead of the deadline next week, depending on where Davis is in his recovery from his hand injury, and if this happens, Toronto could re-enter the race.

If the Raptors were somehow interested in sparking conversation with the Mavericks, one of their only options to avoid sending Dallas first-round draft capital would be to attach Murray-Boyles as a sweetener, no matter how highly they view their former draft selection. Dallas isn't going to give up Davis if the return package isn't fair, and the addition of Murray-Boyles could convince Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley to part with the star big man.

With Daniel Gafford on the chopping block as well, acquiring a young frontcourt player of Murray-Boyles' expertise may be a solid replacement option, especially in the long term. On the season, Murray-Boyles has averaged 7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing on a solid 53 percent shooting from the field.

Coming into the league, Murray-Boyles was generally known as a defensive anchor at the four or even five spot with high rebounding upside, which is everything he has been impressive at in his rookie season. Alongside Cooper Flagg and other young Mavericks products, Murray-Boyles would have the opportunity to develop into a solid core piece that could be Dallas' next big building block of the future.

The Mavericks have yet to show their hand in any potential trades despite the noise around Davis and other players like Naji Marshall, but if Murray-Boyles emerged as a realistic candidate, the team could quickly get back into trade talks, and Dallas shouldn't hesitate.