NBA Rumors: Anthony Davis Lands With Hawks in Proposed 5-Team Blockbuster

The Anthony Davis Drama continues in Dallas, as the Mavericks ponder what to do with their oft-injured superstar center. Eastern Conference teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons have been suggested recently as teams that could make a run at AD.

Bobby Marks of ESPN is the cap master, and can work his way around any salary or apron challenges to come up with NBA trades that 'work.' At least, from a financial perspective. He has suggested a massive 5-team blockbuster that would change the fabric of the NBA, and it would look like this:

Atlanta Hawks receive:

Anthony Davis (from Mavericks)
Jonathan Kuminga (from Warriors)
Buddy Hield (from Warriors)
Devin Carter (from Kings)

Dallas Mavericks receive:

Zach LaVine (from Kings)
2026 1st round pick (from Warriors)
2027 1st round pick (from Pelicans or Bucks - top 4 protected)

Sacramento Kings receive:

Trae Young (from Hawks)
Luke Kennard (from Hawks)

Golden State Warriors receive:

Kristaps Porzingis (from Hawks)

Detroit Pistons receive:

Doug McDermott (from Kings)

For the Hawks, who have been considering moving on from Trae Young, after finding out they can be a dominant defensive team without him, they would also have to give up Porzingis. But they would get not only AD to keep the defensive vibes going, but also a young, promising player like Kuminga as well as a floor spacer in Hield to replace Kennard (though Hield is having a brutal year from the arc).

The Warriors would get the rim-protector who can stretch the floor that they've been longing for at the five, in Porzingis. He, too, however, is an injury risk, like Davis. He's played more than 57 games in a season only once in the last eight years. Is giving up Kuminga and a first-rounder worth the risk?

Would Mavericks trade Anthony Davis for a Zach LaVine & two 1st Rder package?

The Mavs, as Marks asks, must answer the question, "What does Zach LaVine do for you pairing with Kyrie Irving when he comes back?... The picks are what's most interesting (for Dallas, in this hypothetical scenario)."

For the Kings, they could actually be the big winner in this, though Marks didn't really intend all these machinations for that. Sacramento would finally get a star point guard back on their roster, after trading away Tyrese Haliburton and De'Aaron Fox over the last few seasons. Giving up just Zach LaVine to do it (a player they've been desperate to move on from) feels like a huge win for them.