Anthony Davis and the Mavericks: From Franchise Savior to Unwanted Asset

Once hailed as one of the NBA’s most transformative big men, Anthony Davis now finds himself at a crossroads—one that few could have predicted just a handful of seasons ago. The Dallas Mavericks, who once gambled their future on Davis, are now actively seeking to trade him. Yet, in a league always hungry for talent, there is a stunning reality: nobody wants him.

It’s not just the injuries, the contract, or the meme of “Anthony Street Clothes Davis” that has attached itself to his legacy. It’s the complete erosion of his value—a fall so sharp that fans, front offices, and even Davis himself seem resigned to a fate that would have been unthinkable five years ago.

How did it come to this? To understand Davis’s predicament, we must look at every angle: his recent performance, the Mavericks’ disastrous trade, the financial implications, and the changing expectations for aging superstars in the NBA.

The Mavericks’ Gamble: A Trade Gone Wrong

The Mavericks’ acquisition of Anthony Davis was, at the time, seen as a bold move. Davis was a proven ceiling-raiser, capable of single-handedly altering the trajectory of a franchise. His 40-point outburst in the play-in game versus the Grizzlies was a reminder of his elite potential—a game-changing force that title contenders covet.

But the gamble quickly unraveled. Rookie Cooper Flag, in just one season, played five more games for Dallas than Davis managed. The warning signs were clear, but only part of the story. Davis’s contract, set to pay him over $62 million in 2028, became a millstone around the Mavericks’ neck. Meanwhile, Luka Dončić, the centerpiece they traded away, was busy averaging a near 35-point triple-double and leading his team to the NBA Finals.

The Luka trade was a disaster. But the harshest truth is not about the money, nor the injuries. It’s something even more embarrassing: Davis’s value has plummeted so far that even teams in need of a star are recoiling at the prospect of acquiring him.

Street Clothes: Meme or Warning?

“Anthony Street Clothes Davis”—once a playful jab, now a serious warning. Davis’s inability to stay healthy has become a defining trait. Since 2018, he’s played more than 62 games in a season only once. The Mavericks, desperate for reliability, instead found themselves saddled with a player who spends more time on the bench than the court.

The optics are brutal. While Dončić played through pain and led Dallas to the Finals, Davis was often sidelined by nagging injuries. In one infamous episode, Davis was reportedly put in a wheelchair, prompting laughter and disbelief from fans and analysts alike.

The Mavericks had hoped for a reliable veteran. Instead, they got a player whose presence is more meme than menace—a cautionary tale for franchises betting on aging superstars.

The Fan Backlash: From Chicago to Golden State

The trade rumors have swirled, with teams like the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors linked to Davis. Yet, the response from fans has been overwhelmingly negative. On Reddit, Bulls fans voiced their opposition: “We don’t want Anthony Davis,” one post declared, racking up nearly 900 upvotes. The comments echoed the sentiment: “He’s injured so often it would be another worthless contract,” and “If we trade for Anthony Day to Davis, we riot.”

Even the prospect of Davis returning home to Chicago was met with resistance. Warriors fans, hungry for another title run with Steph Curry, recoiled at the idea of Davis joining the roster. The Pistons, flush with assets, showed no interest. Davis’s reputation has shifted from franchise cornerstone to negative asset—a stunning fall for a player who, if healthy, could still be a game-changer.

The Legacy of the 2020 Playoffs: What Was and What Is

It’s important to remember what Davis once was. In the 2020 playoffs, he averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, helping LeBron James secure his fourth NBA title with the Lakers. Davis hit clutch shots, made game-saving blocks, and looked every bit the superstar his reputation suggested.

But those moments are now overshadowed by a legacy of injuries and missed opportunities. Clips of Davis limping off the court, sitting on the bench in street clothes, and being wheeled away have become more common than highlights of his dominance.

The narrative has shifted. Davis’s legacy is no longer about what he accomplished, but about what he failed to sustain.

The Aging Superstar Paradox: Why Teams Are Hesitant

Great veteran bigs reinvent themselves as their athleticism wanes. Brook Lopez, for example, transformed his career at age 28 by developing a reliable three-point shot, becoming a stretch big who played a pivotal role in the Bucks’ championship run.

Davis, by contrast, has regressed as a shooter. In 2018, he shot 34% from three; this season, he’s at just 31.3%. From 2021 to 2025, he managed a combined 25.7% from deep—well below the modern NBA standard for big men. In a league that demands versatility and shooting from its stars, Davis’s inability to adapt has made him less attractive to contending teams.

The pattern is clear: teams want aging stars who add new dimensions to their game. Davis, instead, is perceived as stagnating, further diminishing his trade value.

The Statistical Decline: From Generational Prospect to Trade Bait

Davis’s career arc is a story of early promise and gradual decline. As a college freshman, he was one of just four players ever to win NCAA Player of the Year, earning the “generational prospect” label. By his third NBA season, he was fifth in MVP voting and first-team All-NBA, averaging 28 points, 11.8 rebounds, and over two blocks per game.

But his last first-team All-NBA appearance came in 2020, at age 26. Since then, his production has steadily dropped. This season, Davis is averaging his lowest points per game since year three. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokić, at age 30, is having the best statistical year of his life, possibly en route to a fourth MVP.

True all-time greats sustain their excellence. Davis, once on track to be one of the best big men ever, is now struggling to remain relevant.

The Market Reality: From Five First-Round Picks to Negative Asset

Just last summer, NBA insider Shams Charania suggested Davis would be worth five first-round picks if he hit the market. Now, with Davis available, teams are barely calling. His value has collapsed.

Consider recent trades: Bradley Beal, long considered the worst contract in basketball, was dealt to the Suns for Chris Paul and four first-round pick swaps. Rudy Gobert fetched five first-round picks from the Timberwolves. Yet, Davis—once a more valuable asset—can’t even draw serious interest from teams with cap space and assets.

The Mavericks’ front office faces a sobering reality: Davis is being treated like Ben Simmons, a negative asset whose contract and injury history outweigh his on-court contributions. It’s a shocking fall for a player who, if healthy, can still change games.

The “If Healthy” Problem: A New Nickname for Davis

The phrase “if healthy” has become synonymous with Anthony Davis. Fans and analysts alike preface every discussion of his value with those two words. It’s no longer just “Street Clothes”—it’s “If Healthy Davis,” a player whose potential is forever hamstrung by the uncertainty of his availability.

For the Mavericks, and for any team considering a trade, the risk is clear. Davis can still be elite, as his play-in performance showed. But the odds of him staying on the court are increasingly slim. Teams are no longer willing to bet their future on a player whose best ability—availability—is in question.

The Mavericks’ Dilemma: What Comes Next?

Dallas is left in a precarious position. The franchise mortgaged its future for Davis, only to watch his value evaporate. The front office is desperate to move on, but the market is unforgiving. With Luka Dončić thriving elsewhere, Mavericks fans are left to wonder what could have been.

The lessons are clear: in today’s NBA, durability, adaptability, and versatility matter as much as raw talent. Teams are wary of aging stars whose games have not evolved, and contracts like Davis’s are now seen as liabilities, not assets.

Conclusion: The End of an Era, the Beginning of a Cautionary Tale

Anthony Davis’s fall from grace is one of the most dramatic in recent NBA history. Once a generational prospect and franchise savior, he is now a cautionary tale for teams betting on aging superstars. The Mavericks’ failed gamble has exposed the risks of ignoring durability and adaptability in favor of past glory.

Davis’s legacy is no longer defined by his peak performances, but by his inability to sustain them. As trade rumors swirl and teams shy away, Davis faces a future where “if healthy” may be the only hope attached to his name.

For the Mavericks, for Davis, and for the NBA, the message is clear: greatness is fleeting, and the market is ruthless. The era of betting big on unreliable stars may be coming to an end—and Anthony Davis is the face of that change.