Amid a turbulent season for the Mavericks, injuries to key players like Kyrie Irving and a controversial trade have fueled calls for General Manager Nico Harrison’s resignation. The blockbuster deal, completed on Groundhog Day, sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and other assets. However, any optimism about the Mavericks’ short-term prospects has quickly faded.
ESPN NBA analyst Tim Bontemps, appearing on The Hoop Collective Show, suggested that Dallas should shut down Davis for the rest of the 2024-25 season and trade him in the offseason, citing the team’s struggles post-Dončić trade. On Tuesday, NBA Central’s official X account shared a clip of Bontemps’ comments:
“I’m going to be honest, I don’t think Anthony Davis should ever play for the Mavericks again,” Bontemps said. “He shouldn’t play the rest of the season, and they should trade him this summer.”
“I'm going to be honest, I don't think Anthony Davis should ever play for the Mavericks again. He shouldn't play the rest of the season, and they should trade him this summer.” 👀👀👀
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 5, 2025
– Tim Bontemps
(Via Hoop Collective / h/t @ClutchPoints )
pic.twitter.com/tlhTr57Lzn
His argument centers on the idea that the championship window, as envisioned by Harrison, is closing. Bontemps points to Irving’s age and recent injury, Davis’ contract situation, and the team’s declining competitiveness. Davis, who has a lengthy injury history, has already been sidelined after logging just 31 minutes with Dallas.
Fan support has dwindled since the Dončić trade, and the team lacks control over its first-round picks between 2027 and 2030, many of which are owed to regional rivals. Without young prospects to replenish the roster as the core ages, Dallas risks long-term stagnation. Trading Davis could bring back valuable assets, including draft picks and young talent, offering the franchise a much-needed reset.
Anthony Davis has played just 31 minutes for the Mavericks
Anthony Davis, acquired to complement Kyrie Irving, has played just 31 minutes for the Mavericks in a month. He debuted on Feb. 8 against the Rockets with a dominant 26-point, 16-rebound, seven-assist, three-block performance before suffering an injury. Now, with Irving sidelined by a torn ACL sustained Monday against the Kings, Davis’s own absence due to a left adductor strain raises concerns that he, too, may miss the rest of the season.
Luka Doncic is with the Lakers
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) March 4, 2025
Anthony Davis is still injured
Kyrie Irving joins the injury list
Nico Harrison still runs the team
Say a prayer for Mavs fans 🙏 pic.twitter.com/NeoBm2YWAP
Irving’s injury, a major blow to Dallas’s title aspirations, disrupts what was envisioned as a three-to-four-year contention window – now seemingly lost in its first year.
"It's not out of the realm of possibility … that one game was the last time we've seen AD this season."
— ESPN (@espn) March 4, 2025
—@ShamsCharania on Anthony Davis' return this season. https://t.co/kwMNUSvG06
Adding to the situation, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss reflected on the trade during an NPR interview. She explained that Los Angeles, having lost three straight playoff series to Denver, saw little reason for optimism with the existing roster. Davis, frustrated with playing center, wanted a change, and the opportunity to land Luka Dončić made the deal mutually beneficial.
Jeanie Buss says Anthony Davis wasn’t happy
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 5, 2025
“We have lost the last three years in a row to the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, and we really didn't have anything that was going to look different going into the playoffs again. Anthony Davis was complaining about where he was… pic.twitter.com/jiUTo9uI4t
Despite Davis’s injuries and brief stint in Dallas, CBS reports that “the overwhelming majority of teams would be thrilled to have him,” reaffirming his All-NBA caliber. Houston, Golden State, and Sacramento have emerged as potential trade destinations, each with assets that could appeal to the Mavericks.
The failed “win-now” strategy, compounded by Irving’s injury, has sparked calls for the franchise to cut its losses and rebuild. While the Mavericks have promising young players like Dereck Lively and Max Christie, neither is viewed as a cornerstone for a post-Davis, post-Irving era.
Trading Davis could prove difficult, given that GM Nico Harrison “bet his career” on him. However, the growing consensus suggests that moving Davis is the best path forward for a team suddenly in crisis mode.
READ: Mavs’ Kyrie Irving Out After Awkward Fall Leads to Knee Sprain vs. Kings
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
