The Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday following a disappointing 3-8 start to the season. Harrison, who orchestrated the Luka Doncic trade to the L.A. Lakers last season, has been on the hot seat since the trade deadline last season.
While many believed that Harrison had the support of management, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont penned an open letter to Mavericks fans upon firing his GM.
“I understand the profound impact these difficult last several months have had,” Dumont wrote. “Please know that I’m fully committed to the success of the Mavericks.”
Dumont, the son-in-law of Mavericks majority owner Miriam Adelson, was critical of Doncic’s work ethic following the trade and questioned his dedication to contributing to a winning culture.
Now that Harrison is gone and the Mavericks are on the fast track to the NBA Lottery, many analysts believe that Dallas could blow up the roster to tank for a higher draft pick.
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and P.J. Washington are among the players who could be dealt as the Mavericks look to build around No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. Among the players expected to be available, Davis is the player most likely to generate the best return.
Below, we’ll break down the top trade destinations for Anthony Davis, including four realistic landing spots for the star power forward.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls seem like the most logical fit for Davis, given that he’s from Chicago. After dropping three in a row and four of their past five games, Chicago could use a jolt to help re-energize a fan base that is ready to compete.
The Mavericks don’t control their first-round picks in 2027, 2028, 2029, or 2030 and a deal with Chicago could allow them to get back the most valuable return. Chicago has the right mix of draft capital, expiring contracts, and serviceable players to help make a potential deal work.
Two first-round picks, along with Coby White, Patrick Williams, and Zach Collins’ expiring contract could be enough to get the conversation started.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland has been competitive since head coach Chauncey Billups was indicted in an illegal gambling scheme. The Trail Blazers are currently tied for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and could give Davis the chance to play power forward, rather than center at this stage of his career. With Damian Lillard already on the roster for next season, adding Davis could allow Portland to remain competitive this season with a chance to push for a deeper playoff run in 2026-27.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are always hunting for a deal to bring in a star and Davis would fit in with Heat culture. Miami has been one of the biggest surprises, winning 7 of its first 11 games without star guard Tyler Herro. Currently in third place in the East, the Heat could pair Davis with Bam Adebayo, creating one of the best frontcourts in the conference. Herro has the salary to help make a potential deal work, and given that he’s still almost two months away from returning to the floor, acquiring him wouldn’t hurt the Mavericks ability to tank for the rest of the season
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are hovering above .500 through 11 games but have strangely gone all-in on winning this season. The trio of R.J. Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and Scottie Barnes have been a poor fit but with point guard Immanuel Quickley starting to show signs of life, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Raptors pursue a deal to bring in a true star. Davis is injury-prone but has talent to help Toronto compete in a relatively weak Eastern Conference.
