When Anthony Davis is on the floor, Dallas owns a top-tier defense, with his rim protection cleaning up mistakes for an inexperienced perimeter group led by rookie Cooper Flagg.

The pairing has already produced stretches where opponents are pushed into tough mid-range shots and late-clock heaves, exactly the kind of environment a rookie playmaker needs to grow without carrying every possession.

There is also the question of timing. With the front office in transition after Nico Harrison’s firing, rushing into a move could lock the Mavericks into the wrong long-term identity before the new group fully evaluates how far a Flagg-Davis core can go once the rotation stabilizes.

In the short term, Davis remains the best player on the roster and the most reliable half-court option in tight games, something Dallas would struggle to replace immediately.

The Argument to Trade Sooner

The counter is brutal but fair. Davis has logged limited games since arriving in Dallas, reinforcing a long track record of availability issues that make any playoff plan feel fragile. His trade value is unlikely to be higher than it is during a relatively healthy stretch, and another significant injury could turn a star asset into an expensive question mark.

Dallas’ draft-capital situation adds pressure. The franchise controls its 2026 first-round pick but faces an intricate web of swaps and outgoing selections later in the decade, leaving limited flexibility to retool if Davis declines in his early 30s.

Moving him now could replenish multiple first-round picks and young pieces, giving the Mavericks a cleaner runway to build a timeline fully aligned with Flagg’s prime years.

Finding the Right Answer

In reality, the decision hinges on Davis’ role and mindset as much as his stat line. If he insists on playing primarily at power forward once Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II are healthy, lineups could clog quickly for a team that already needs space for Flagg to attack and create.

A willingness from Davis to embrace more minutes at center, screen more frequently, and lean into a defensive-anchor identity would make keeping him significantly easier to justify.

For now, the smartest play may be patience with a deadline in mind. Dallas can use the next couple of months as a live stress test of the Flagg-Davis partnership while quietly surveying the market, prepared to pivot if a package of picks and young talent reaches an undeniable threshold.