The Anthony Davis injury saga has officially thickened.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported that Davis is expected to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand and miss several months. Charania also reported the Mavericks have engaged in renewed trade talks involving Davis with multiple interested teams, a move that could create a path for the center to return for a team’s playoff push.
Davis disputed Charania’s report and took to social media to push back.
“Yall better stop listening to all these lies on these apps,” Davis tweeted.
He followed up by replying “lies” to multiple posts referencing the breaking news.
But, soon after DLLS’ Marc Stein reported there is some optimism in Dallas that Davis could return at some point in March, even if surgery on his left hand is required. That scenario would allow the Mavericks to hold onto Davis and potentially push for the play-in tournament. However, if Dallas keeps Davis past the trade deadline, it would be more likely he is moved during the offseason.
Any team considering a trade for Davis would also need to absorb his $58.5 million salary for next season. Davis holds a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027–28 season, with teams weighing that commitment against his recent injury history. It’s also been reported by multiple outlets that Davis wants a contract extension.
Injuries have limited the 10-time All-Star to 29 regular-season games, plus one play-in appearance, since he was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade in February.
Davis was recovering from an abdominal strain at the time of the trade and then strained an adductor muscle during his Mavericks debut, sidelining him for six weeks.
This season, Davis missed 14 games in November with a strained left calf. That absence was extended when team governor Patrick Dumont declined to approve his return until medical testing showed no risk of aggravating the injury, according to The Stein Line. The organization wanted to ensure Davis’ calf was fully healthy.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd addressed the timeline during his pregame availability, saying Davis has not been ruled out for the season. However, Davis is expected to miss at least six weeks, depending on the treatment plan the team ultimately chooses.
“I think that’s sometime this week that he’ll talk to the doctors, but there is no schedule or timetable on when he’s going to make that announcement,” Kidd said prior to the team’s victory against the Brooklyn Nets.
Davis’ agent, Rich Paul — the founder of Klutch Sports Group — also addressed the possibility of a trade on his Game Over podcast with former First Take co-host Max Kellerman.
“If you plan on trading somebody, there’s a time,” Paul said. “It’s almost a gamesmanship to it. You’re trying to go a little longer and see the most you can get out of somebody. When you do that you run a risk. … There is a world you come out of this draft with a great pick, that the following year and saying ‘Wait a minute, we got these two young guys on rookie contracts that are good’. You have Kyrie and AD, two top 15 players… it’s not totally negative”
While the past hour surrounding the latest Anthony Davis news has been chaotic, the DLLS Mavs podcast and beat writers will continue to provide updates on the 10-time All-Star’s injury and trade saga.
