After the Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison, Anthony Davis seemingly became a realistic trade candidate. ESPN's Tim MacMahon talked to a Western Conference executive who suggested a Davis trade could be possible. It's unclear what Davis' value is and what teams are interested in him.
One team that has quietly been floated around for Davis is the Minnesota Timberwolves. CBS Sports' Sam Quinn ranked the Timberwolves sixth on his favorite landing spots for Davis, and The Ringer's Zach Lowe discussed Minnesota as a destination for AD.
While these aren't officially reports, it's worth discussing whether Davis indeed becomes available if the Wolves should pursue him. I get the idea behind a Davis-Wolves trade, and how people could see him as the final piece. However, I don't think this move would be in Minnesota's best interest, and there's far too much risk with Davis.
Davis is supremely talented, but a trade doesn't make sense
Listen when he's healthy, Davis is a clear top-10 level player and a two-way monster. As we all know, though, that's the problem with Davis: he's not healthy enough. Davis has only played in 65-plus games once in the past five years. Plus, Davis is already dealing with a calf strain. At 32, Davis' injuries are unlikely to go away, especially as they've been a factor throughout his career.
Listen, I'm not opposed to the Wolves making a major trade if the right move arises. I don't think Tim Connelly would be scared to either. Regardless, the Wolves' main need is a lead guard, not a frontcourt player. Now, in the hypothetical scenario where the Wolves pursue a Davis trade, they would part ways with at least one, maybe two of their frontcourt players.
Nevertheless, Julius Randle should be a non-starter for the Wolves. He has proven to be an ideal co-star next to Anthony Edwards and is on a team-friendly deal, likewise for Jaden McDaniels. I think the Wolves are looking to keep this core group of players intact, even if they seek out a big trade.
In my eyes, the Wolves have a better chance to a win a championship now and in the future with this core. Is Davis better than Randle and McDaniels in a vacuum? Of course, but as we all know, there are a lot more factors that go into winning than raw talent. Right now, there's no reason to shake up this trio.
Would the Mavs really be interested in some combination of Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, young players, and the little draft capital the Wolves have? Frankly, I doubt it.
Not to get too technical, but the Wolves and Mavs are both first-apron teams, meaning a third team would have to be included for salary-matching purposes. Davis has an enormous annual salary of $58.4 million.
Taking on another contract of this magnitude is risky in the second-apron era, especially when it's an injury-prone player. Beyond the basketball reasons, the logistics of this trade are messy, and frankly, it's unlikely.
Ultimately, the Wolves trading for Davis sounds intriguing in theory, but the price will likely be too high given the risk.