Raptors Anthony Davis Trade Idea Brings Haul to Mavericks

The Toronto Raptors are one of the few teams that might be willing to make a big swing at this NBA trade deadline. The Eastern Conference looks open for the taking, and the Raptors have been outperforming expectations. 

Right now, the Raptors are 25–17 and are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. If the Raptors decided to make one big move, they could easily be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference once again. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently came up with "The Best 5 Anthony Davis Landing Spots and Trade Ideas," and one of his Davis trade ideas could be that big move for the Raptors. 

“Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl, Garrett Temple and a top-3 protected 2031 first-round pick for Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell

The first thing you may notice with this package is the fact that the Toronto Raptors are sending a straight-up pick (as opposed to a pick swap), and that's because the players heading back to Dallas don't offer anywhere near as much flexibility as those in the previous deals.

Brandon Ingram's mid-range-heavy and, at times, ball-stopping game isn't a great fit with Flagg. And he's under contract through 2027–28. Jakob Poeltl's lack of ability to stretch the floor, not to mention the fact that Dallas already has Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, makes him a weird fit, too."

Of all the trades that Bailey proposed, this one would land the Mavericks with the most talent. The problem is, it's mainly win-now talent that the Mavericks are getting. Trading Davis is all about pivoting to a rebuild. The Mavericks are going to want younger pieces in return.