Mavericks land former top-five pick in trade haul for Anthony Davis

Though rumors have slowed down to some degree, the Dallas Mavericks are still a top team to watch in the final days leading up to the trade deadline. The roster is filled with veterans who could garner interest across the league, with Anthony Davis being at the top of the list. 

As Cooper Flagg continues to shine in his rookie campaign, speculation continues on whether Dallas should shift its timeline around him. One way they could speed up their retooling around the 19-year-old is by parting with AD. Acquiring the 10-time All-Star has not panned out as the franchise might have hoped, as injuries continue to limit his availability in the lineup.

Dallas Mavericks part with Anthony Davis in multi-team mock trade

Ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey broke down a series of moves that 'must' happen. One of them included Dallas shipping Davis to the Eastern Conference for a sizable return. 

The trade: 

Raptors Receive - Anthony Davis
Mavericks Receive - RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Ochai Agbaji and a top-three protected 2027 first-round pick from Toronto
Nets Receive - D'Angelo Russell and a 2027 second-round pick from Toronto

The names might not jump off the page, but given AD's current value, it is a respectable return for the Mavericks. As a former No. 3 pick, RJ Barrett is one of the more intriguing pieces. He might not have blossomed into a franchise-altering talent, but he is still a quality player just getting ready to enter his prime.

Across 28 appearances for the Raptors this season, Barrett is averaging 18.8 PPG and 3.6 APG while shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. 

Given the current outlook of the roster, shifting towards Flagg as the cornerstone and building out around him makes the most sense for the Mavericks. If Dallas decides to get out of the AD business a year after acquiring him, this is likely one of the best offers they'll receive for him. 

The Mavs' front office has a little under three days to decide to make a big move with Davis or wait to reassess the situation in the offseason.