The New York Knicks enter the season with what is described as their best roster in roughly twenty years. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are the team’s leading scorers, and Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby occupy the forward positions. The organization is focused on winning a championship this season, and its roster has been constructed around that pursuit.
As the Knicks progress through the season with this goal in mind, league attention has begun to focus on the situation involving Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis. Although Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban told The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, “we won’t” trade Davis, additional reporting states that teams are expected to evaluate the possibility if Dallas decides to take trade discussions further.
- The Knicks are expected to “check in” on a possible Anthony Davis trade if the Dallas Mavericks decide to move him, according to insider Ian Begley.
- Dallas is struggling at 5–13, dealing with major injuries and fallout from the Luka Doncic trade, and is now listening to offers for Davis.
- A trade is extremely hard to build because Davis makes $54 million this year, the Knicks lack first-round picks, and both New York and Dallas are second-apron teams.
Knicks Expected to Initiate Contact if Dallas Opens Trade Conversations
On Saturday, SNY’s Ian Begley said he believes the Knicks would “at least check in” if Davis becomes available. Begley explained, “You may scoff at the idea, but the Knicks want to win a title this season. If Dallas is offering Davis at a below-market cost, I’m sure the Knicks will at least give the move some thought.” He added, “The Mavs will get calls from nearly all NBA teams if/when they make Davis available.”
During their postseason run when they took a 2–0 series lead over the Boston Celtics, the Knicks’ championship odds moved into the league’s upper tier, reaching the fifth-best odds to win the NBA Finals. Entering this week, aggregated futures listed New York around +900 to win the title. Ahead of their recent game against the Brooklyn Nets, New York was positioned as a -13 favorite, with a -850 moneyline and a total of 228, consistent with the Knicks’ 9–6 record and the Nets’ 3–13 record.
Dallas’ Poor Start and Davis’ Limited Availability Shape the Situation
The Mavericks are 5–13 following a home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, who were without Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Injuries have been a constant issue for Dallas since trading away Luka Doncic, and these problems contributed to Nico Harrison being fired a few weeks into the season.
Davis has played a limited number of games since arriving in the Doncic trade, appearing in 14 of a possible 51 games, though reports note that Davis has been healthy enough to appear in only 14 of 48 regular-season games because of adductor and calf setbacks.
Given the circumstances, betting markets have seen a change. Sportsbooks list Dallas at +25000 to win the NBA Finals, +12500 to win the Western Conference, and +25000 to win their division, meaning the Mavericks are near the bottom of the league’s futures boards.
Davis’ individual props, which adjust frequently based on his status, continue to draw attention when he is active. One recent rebound prop carried a -136 price on one side, supported by projections estimating 13.1 rebounds for that performance.
Reporting Indicates Dallas Will Listen to Offers
Further clarity came from Marc Stein, who wrote, “League sources say that the Mavericks still intend to field any trade interest in Davis that emerges over the next two-plus months with the prospect of an actual trade obviously dependent on offer quality.” Stein reiterated Davis’ limited availability, stating that he has appeared in 14 of 48 regular-season games due to the same injuries.
Taken as a whole, Dallas’ record, injuries, and internal changes have established the conditions under which the organization is willing to consider incoming interest.
Possible Fit and the Structural Barriers to a Deal
If the Knicks evaluate a potential trade, they would need to consider both on-court and financial factors. Davis could contribute to the Knicks’ defense, which is identified as an area where Towns struggles. Both players are above-average rebounders. Offensively, the two have a similar profile, although Towns is identified as the better three-point shooter, which could affect spacing.
Executing a trade would require significant adjustments due to Davis’s salary of $54 million. A Knicks package centered on Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson is described as leaving New York “well short.” Both teams are second apron teams, adding further restrictions.
The Knicks have a 2026 first-round pick, but they will not make a 2027 first-round selection unless they acquire one through a trade. Much of their previous draft capital was used in the Mikal Bridges trade.
Because of these constraints, most scenarios would require Karl-Anthony Towns to be included to match the salary. A third team, such as the Brooklyn Nets, could be needed to distribute contracts. New York’s collection of second-round picks could help facilitate a multi-team structure.
